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Sir John Froissart in his Study receiving a Messenger 
from the Court of France 



Stories from Froissart 



BY 

HENRY NEWBOLT 

AUTHOR OF ** ADMIRALS ALL," ** THE ISLAND RACE," ETC. 



ILLUSTRATED 



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

LONDON : MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd. 
1899 

All rights reserved 




In 3 



THE LIBRARY 
OF CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON 



42768 

Copyright, 1899, 
By the MACMILLAN COMPANY. 

TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 







^ 



Norwood Press 

J. S. Gushing & Co. — Berivick & Smith 

Norivood, Mass.y U.S.A. 



TO ALL THE DESCENDANTS 

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN 

OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD, OF NOBLE MEMORY 

AND OF THE 

KNIGHTS, SQUIRES, ARCHERS, AND TALL YEOMEN 

HIS COMPANIONS IN ARMS 



Contents 



Page 

xiii 



Introduction ....... 

Prologue ....... 

T. The Battle of Sluys 

Of the Battle on the Sea before Sluys in Flanders, be 
tween the King of England and the Frenchmen 

II. The Battle of Cressy .... 

How the King of England came over the Sea again, 

and rode with his army in three battalions through 

Normandy ... . . . . .11 

How Sir Godfrey Harcourt fought with them of Amiens 

before Paris . . . . . . .14 

How the French King followed the King of England 

in the Country of Beauvais . . . .18 

/ )S)f the Battle of Blanchetaque between the King of 

England and Sir Godemar du Fay . . .21 

Of the order of the Englishmen at Cressy, and how 

they made three Battalions a-foot ... 26 

The order of the Frenchmen at Cressy, and how they 

beheld the demeanour of the Englishmen . . 28 

Of the Battle of Cressy between the King of England 

and the French King . . . . .31 

How the next day after the battle, the Englishmen dis- 
comfited divers Frenchmen . . . •39 
How the next day after the Battle of Cressy, they that 

were dead were numbered by the Englishmen . 41 



viii Contents 

Page 

III.' The Siege of Calais ..... 43 

How the King of England laid siege to Calais, and how 

all the poor people were put out of the town . . 45 

How the French King, assembled a great host to raise 

the King of England from the siege before Calais . 46 

How the King of England made the passages about 
Calais to be well kept that the French King should 
not approach to raise the siege .... 49 

How the Town of Calais was given up to the King of 

England . . . . . . -53 

How the King of England repeopled the Town of 

Calais with Englishmen . . . . .60 

IV. The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer . . 63 

How the King of England attacked the Spanish ships 
on the sea on their way from Flanders into Spain 
and how he discomfited them . . . .65 

V. The Battle of Poitiers . . . . -11 

Of the Assembly that the French King made to fight 

with the Prince of Wales, who rode in Berry . 79 

How the Prince of Wales took the Castle of Romo- 

rantin ..... . . 84 

Of the great host that the French King brought to the 

Battle of Poitiers ...... 86 

Of the order of the Frenchmen before the Battle of 
Poitiers . . . . 

How the Cardinal of Perigord treated to make agree- 
ment between the French King and the Prince before 
the Battle of Poitiers ..... 



91 



94 



Contents ix 

Page 

Of the Battle of Poitiers between the Prince of Wales 

and the French King . . . . . loi 

Of the two Frenchmen that fled from the Battle of 

Poitiers and two Englishmen that followed them . 112 

How King John was taken prisoner at the Batde of 

Poiuers . . . . . . . .114 

Of the gift that the Prince gave to the Lord James 

Audley after the Battle of Poitiers . . . i 20 

How the Englishmen won gready at the Batde of 

Poiders . . . . . . . .122 

How the Lord James Audley gave to his four squires 
the five hundred marks of revenue that the Prince 
had given him . . . . . .123 

How the Prince made a supper to the French King the 

same day of the battle . . . . .125 

How the Prince returned to Bordeaux after the Batde 

of Poitiers . . . . . . .126 

How the Prince conveyed the French King from Bor- 
deaux into England . . . . . .131 

VL The Journey of Sir John Froissart . . • ^35 

How Sir John Froissart, Author of this Chronicle, 
departed out of France and went to the Earl of Foix, 
and the manner of his voyage in the company of a 
knight of Foix . . . . . • ' 3 7 

Of the taking of the Casdes of Ordngas and le Paillier 

by Peter d'Anchin, a Knight of Bigorre . . 141 

How Sir John Froissart came to Casseres, and there 
Sir Espaing du Lyon shewed him of the taking of 
the town by the Armagnacs and again by the Earl 
of Foix . . . . . . . .148 



Contents 



Page 



How Sir John Froissart and the Knight rode by the 

river of Garonne . . . . . .152 

Of the wars that the Duke of Anjou made against the 
Enghshmen, and how he recovered the Castle of 
Malvoisin in Bigorre which was afterward given to 
the Earl of Foix . . . . . .156 

Of the Treasure of the Earl of Foix . . .167 

How the garrison and Castle of Lourdes was cast down 
and discomfited by the great diligence that the Earl 
of Foix made . . . . . . .172 

Of the great strength of the Bourg d'Espaign, and how 
Sir Peter Arnaut de Beam kept his faith and angered 
two great lords . . . . . .181 

How in journeying from Tarbes to Morlens the knight 
shewed Sir John Froissart of the beginning of the 
war that was between the Earl of Foix and the Earl 
of Armagnac . . . . . . .190 

Of the great virtuousness and liberality that was in the 
Earl of Foix, and the manner of the piteous death of 
Gaston, the Earl's son . . . . .199 

Of the State or Ordinance of the Earl of Foix . . 215 

Vn. The Battle of Aljubarota .... 219 

How for the war that was between them, the King of 
Castile had aid out of France, and the King of 
Portugal out of England . . . . .221 

Of the English and Portuguese, how they ordered 

themselves and their battalion . . . .226 

Of the Spaniards, how they ordered themselves and their 

battalions . . . . . . .229 

How the French knights and Gascons, such as were 



Contents xi 



taken prisoners at Aljubarota by the Portuguese, were 
slain by their masters, and none escaped . . 237 

How the King of Castile and all his great battalion 
were discomfited by the King of Portugal before the 
village called Aljubarota . . . . .239 

VIII. Orthon, the Familiar Spirit .... 249 

How a Spirit called Orthon served the Lord of Corasse 
a long time, and brought him ever tidings from all 
parts of the world . . . . . .251 

IX. The Death of the Earl of Foix . . . 265 

Of the sudden death of the Earl Gaston of Foix, and 

how the Earl of Chatel-bon came to the inheritance 267 

X. The Invasion of England . . . . .281 

Of the great apparel and provision that was made in 
the realm of France by the King there and by his 
Council, for a journey to be made into England . 283 

With what demeanour they in England beheld the 

preparation of the Frenchmen . . , .288 

How the French King and his uncles arrived at Sluys 

in Flanders, to the intent to pass into England . 292 

How the voyage into England was broken by reason 
of the winds and of winter, and by counsel of the 
Duke of Berry ...... 297 

How King Charles of France and the French lords 
returned ill-content from Sluys, where their provi- 
sions were made to have gone into the realm of 
England : and of the feast that was made in London 301 



xii Contents 

Page 

XL The Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle . 305 

Of the battle on the sea between the Englishmen and 

Sir John de Bucq, Admiral for the Duke of Burgundy 307 

XIL The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay . -317 

How Sir Piers Courtenay came into France to do arms 
with Sir Guy de la Tremouille, and how the Lord 
de Clary conveyed him, and by what occasion he 
did arms with him in the marches of Calais . .319 

XIIL The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains . 333 

How the Jousts of St, Inglevere were enterprised by 
Sir Reginald de Roye, the young Sir Boucicaut and 
the Lord de Saimpi . . . . . -335 

Of the deeds of arms at St. Liglevere continuing 
thirty days against all comers of the realm of Eng- 
land and other countries ; every man three courses ; 
and first, of the arms done the first day . .340 

Of the second day at St. Inglevere . . . .349 

Of the third day at St. Inglevere, and how the French 

King was there present, disguised as unknown . 355 

Of the fourth day, and how the Englishmen departed 
in courteous manner from the three knights of France, 
and thanked them greatly . . . . .362 



List of Illustrations 



Sir John Froissart in his Study receiving a Messenger from 

the Court of France ..... Frojitispiece 



The Battle of Blanchetaque . 

The Battle of Cressy .... 

The Pope in Council sending a Legate to 
France ..... 

Sea-fight between the English and Spaniards 

Englishmen assaulting a French Town 

The Skirmish by the Woodside 

The Batde of Folders .... 

The Young Earl of Armagnac on the March 

Froissart received by Gaston, Earl of Foix 

The King of Portugal charging the Spaniards at 

Death of Gaston, Earl of Foix 

The Viscount of Chatel-bon's Embassy to 
France ..... 



FACING PAGE 

22 



the King of 



Aljubarota 



the Court of 



Richard II. of England at the Head of his Army 



32 

52 

74 
80 
82 

1 10 
194 

200 

234 
268 

276 
288 



XIV List of Illustrations 



FACING PAGE 



Charles, King of France, on his Way to invade England . 294 

The Duke of Burgundy returning Home . . . .300 

English Fleet under the Earl of Arundel .... 308 

Sir Piers Courtenay and Sir Guy de la Tremouille jousting 

before the Court of France . . . . .320 

The Three Challengers parading at St. Inglevere . . 342 

Deeds of Arms at St. Inglevere . . . . •354 



INTRODUCTION 

" t I ^HIS noble realm of England," said the 
I Earl of Salisbury, "hath been a long sea- 
■^^ son in triumphant flower." The words 
were spoken just five hundred years ago, and in 
every generation since then Englishmen have de- 
lighted to find the colour and splendour of that 
flower still glowing freshly in the Chronicles of Sir 
John Froissart. The time deserved a lasting record, 
and the Earl of Foix, who had the right to an opin- 
ion, spoke plainly to our author of his opportunity, 
" saying to me how the history that I had begun 
should, hereafter, be more praised than any other, 
and the reason, he said, why, was this, how that in 
fifty years past there had been done more marvel- 
lous deeds of arms in the world than in three hun- 
dred years before that." Many histories have been 
praised since then, and they have recorded many 
deeds of arms, some, perhaps, as marvellous as 
Cressy or Poitiers ; but this is likely enough to 
keep its place among them all, for its truth is not 
a matter of dates, and it differs from all mere rec- 
ords as widely as a forest in leaf differs from a tim- 



xvi Introduction 

ber-yard. Nothing here is dry, nothing dead; in n 
the hall we see the lords and bishops at their Christ- 
mas dinner, the minstrels playing and singing, " the 
knights and squires of honour going up and down, 
and talking of arms and of love"; in the battle-field 
the hedges, and dykes, the moated abbey with the 
minster among the trees, or the "little windmill 
hill"; in the church the "goodly hearse and well- 
ordered " with the torches round it burning night 
and day, and the dead lord's banner before the high 
altar. Everything is seen; sometimes in a picture, as 
when " at the foot of the castle they mounted their 
horses and rode away," or when "the King of Eng- 
land stood on the fore part of his ship apparelled in 
a black jacket of velvet, and he wore on his head a 
bonnet of black cloth the which became him right 
well ; and he was there so joyous as he never was 
seen " ; sometimes in drama, as when the young 
King of France irritates the old Constable by his 
childish eagerness, or the great Earl, half in anger, 
half in ignorance, kills his only son. 

Of these Chronicles, thirteen episodes are here 
presented entire ; they contain abundant matter for 
comment ; but before I go further I must tell some- 
thing of the story of the book itself, and of the man 
who wrote it. 

In the middle of the fourteenth century, Messire 
Jean le Bel, knight and nobleman, soldier, sports- 



Introduction xvii 

man, song-writer, and reverend Canon of Liege, 
composed for his lord and captain, Jean de Beau- 
mont, a " True and notable history of new wars and 
things befallen, between the years 1326 and 1361, 
in France, in England, and elsewhere." That work 
was lost for centuries, and was only rediscovered in 
1847, but it was famous in its time, and gave one 
at least of its readers an inspiration and a career in 
life. This was Jean Froissart, a young scholar and 
churchman, born at Valenciennes in Hainault in the 
year 1338, who had always, as he himself tells us, 
"justly enquired for the truth of the deeds of wars 
and adventures that have fallen, and especially since 
the great battle of Poitiers, as before that time I 
was but of a young age or understanding. How- 
beit I took on me, as soon as I came from school, 
to rhyme and to recite the above wars, and bare the 
same compiled into England, as I had written it." 
It was in 1361, that is, in the very year in which 
Jean le Bel's Chronicle came to an end, that Jean 
Froissart's first book made its appearance and was 
"published" after the fashion of the time by being 
presented to the Queen of England. Whether this 
was a mere coincidence, or whether the elder writer 
in some way nominated the younger to succeed him, 
we cannot tell, for we know little of the outward 
circumstances of Froissart's early life ; he has no- 
where so much as told us the name or occupation 



xviii Introduction 

of his father. But for the rest of his days, we know 
all that we need to know, both of himself and his 
book ; we can see how he wrote and rewrote it, and 
from time to time enlarged it : how much he took 
entire from Jean le Bel, and how much he changed 
or rejected, and we can follow him through the 
courts of England, France, and Brabant, where he 
collected his material from witnesses at first hand, 
passing his time among the feudal barons and vet- 
eran soldiers, living as they lived, admiring where 
they admired, believing all that they believed and 
most of what they told, and wishing, without doubt, 
that it might have been his fortune to fight as they 
had fought. He was constrained to make a better 
use of his opportunities, happily for us ; for Europe 
was then a chess-board of little kingdoms, and every 
kingdom swarmed with fighting men ; but poets 
and chroniclers were few, and among the few there 
was only one Froissart. 

His first volume, of which I have spoken, was an 
account of the battle of Poitiers ; and though lost 
in its separate form, its substance is no doubt incor- 
porated in the Chronicles as we now possess them. 
It might well be vividly and picturesquely written ; 
for at the Court of Edward III. he was able to 
meet and question the very men who had borne 
the brunt of that day's work, and he was a favoured 
guest at Berkhampstead, in the house of the Black 



Introduction xix 

Prince himself. His admiration for the character 
and achievements of the English is flattering to our 
national pride, and we may believe that it was based 
upon a fair judgment of what he saw and heard, but 
the fact that Oueen Philippa was his kindest patron 
and a native of his own Hainault, undoubtedly 
added something to the colouring ; for many years 
afterwards he saw the Court of England through a 
golden haze of personal feeling. But he was at 
least as impartial as an English writer would have 
been, and he gives solid and abundant reasons for 
his preferences. His portrait of Oueen Philippa is 
to this day undimmed by any adverse criticism : 
" Tall and upright was she, wise, gay, humble, 
pious, liberal, and courteous, decked and adorned 
in her time with all noble virtues, beloved of God 
and of mankind : and so long as she lived the 
Kingdom of England had favour, prosperity, hon- 
our, and every sort of good fortune." And what- 
ever flaws old age may have brcught to light in the 
character of Edward III., in the days when Frois- 
sart knew and admired him, he was a King indeed. 
At Sluys " in the flower of his youth, he shewed 
himself a noble knight of his own hand." At 
Cressy " he rode from rank to rank, desiring every 
man to take heed that day to his right and honour. 
He spake it so sweetly and with so good counte- 
nance and merry cheer that all such as were dis- 



XX Introduction 

comfited took courage in the saying and hearing of 
him." And in the flush of unhoped-for victory, 
" the King would have that no man should be 
proud or make boast, but every man humbly to 
thank God.'' The Black Prince, too, in his youth, 
before disease and hardships dragged him down, 
was the true son of such a father, " worthy to guard 
a realm." In battle he was " courageous and cruel as 
a lion : he took great pleasure to fight and to chase 
his enemies " ; but when he knew that the greatest 
triumph of the age was safely his, and John of 
France sat as a prisoner at his table, " always the 
Prince served before the King, as humbly as he 
could," and he cheered his fallen enemy with such 
exquisite courtesy and sincere offer of friendship, 
that even the French knights, sitting weary and 
wounded at that bitter feast, began to murmur 
among themselves " how that the Prince had spoken 
nobly, and that by all estimation he should prove a 
noble man, if God send him life and to persevere 
in such good fortune." In the end God sent him 
neither long life nor such good fortune, but that 
one summer was enough to place him apart as a 
figure of heroic splendour in the memory and im- 
agination of his countrymen. 

And it was not the Princes only of England who 
moved Froissart to enthusiasm : we read with an 
even greater and nearer pleasure his praise of the 



Introduction xxi 

men-of-arms and archers who did the hardest of 
the marching and fighting: they were, to his mind, 
ideal soldiers : ready and orderly before the battle, 
cool and unabashed in the face of tremendous odds, 
self-restrained in the dangerous first moment of 
success ; generous and trustful in ransoming their 
prisoners, to whom " they made good cheer," and 
would " let them go, all only on their promise of 
faith and truth to return again with their ransoms." 
Such courtesy, he says, was not to be found among 
the Germans, nor such steadfastness among the 
Spaniards : as to the French he gives no direct 
opinion, but puts into the mouth of the Flemings 
a sharp saying. " We think they will not pass into 
England this year, for the realm of England is not 
so easy to be won : Englishmen be not of the con- 
dition of Frenchmen. And what will they do in 
England ? When the Englishmen were in France 
and over-rode their countries, then the Frenchmen 
hid themselves in their fortresses and fled before 
them as the lark doth before the hawk." 

In England, then, among these congenial friends, 
he lived, as one of the Queen's secretaries, for five 
of the happiest years of his life. In 1366 he ac- 
companied the Prince and Princess of Wales, and 
in 1368 the Duke of Clarence, on their journeys 
to the Continent. He was in Italy in 1369, when 
news came of the death of Queen Philippa, and he 



xxii Introduction 

found himself thrown upon the world again. For a 
time he is supposed to have turned to trade ; but 
it is certain that the " first edition " of the Chroni- 
cles appeared very shortly afterwards, under the 
patronage of Robert of Namur, Lord of Beaufort, 
and with such success as to give its author at once 
a reputation and a certain livelihood for the rest of 
his days. He passed under the protection of one 
great lord after another : the Duke and Duchess 
of Brabant, Duke Aubert of Bavaria, his son Will- 
iam of Ostrevant, Governor of Hainault, Gaston 
Phoebus, Earl of Foix, and Richard II. of England, 
all employed or entertained him : Guy de Chatillon 
made him Cure of Lestinnes, and afterwards, when 
Earl of Blois, appointed him to be his own chaplain 
and a Canon of Chimay. In 1388, intent on com- 
pleting his Chronicles, Froissart made his famous 
journey into Beam, and went the next year from 
thence to Bruges; in 1394 he came back for the 
last time to England, after an absence of twenty- 
seven years. The new King, Richard, received him 
kindly, but he found only one of his old acquaint- 
ance still at Court, and soon returned to Hainault. 
Tradition says that he died in 1410, and therefore 
in his seventy-second year ; and that he was buried 
in St. Anne's Chapel, in the Church of Chimay. 

His book, after being read widely for a hundred 
and fifty years in the original French, came at last 



Introduction xxiii 

to be translated into English by command of King 
Henry VIII. And here Froissart's good fortune 
followed him even after death ; the work was in- 
trusted to Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners, who 
was himself a knight and veteran soldier, a descend- 
ant of Edward III. and in character and feeling a 
man so exactly after the Chronicler's own heart, that 
his version, in spite of its great freedom, its often 
careless grammar, and its obsolete words and phrases, 
remains a masterpiece of interpretation, never to be 
superseded. There is one other translation, made 
at the beginning of this century and more commonly 
known: its author, Colonel Johnes, was an indus- 
trious scholar, to whom, for the sake of his learning 
and enthusiasm, his longwinded and insipid style 
may perhaps be forgiven ; but he cannot be heard 
in place of a writer whose English almost every- 
where rivals the beauty of his original, and who is 
under strong suspicion of having added, in one pas- 
sage at least, a touch of tragic dignity beyond the 
intention of Froissart himself The ruined French 
King, as he fled from Cressy, came at dark, we are 
told, with but four barons round him, to the Castle 
of la Broyes, and found his own fortress closed and 
guarded against him. " Who is it that calleth there 
this time of night ^ " cried the Captain from the 
wall. " Then the King said, ' Open your gate 
quickly, for this is the fortune of France.' " Of 



xxiv Introduction 

the many manuscript copies known to us, not one 
contains the equivalent of these words. 

From this version of Lord Berners, then, the 
present volume is taken, with such dovetailing 
of separated narratives, substitution of intelligible 
for obsolete words, and new translation of mistaken 
or omitted passages, as seemed necessary to make 
the book complete and easily readable. Pynson's 
edition of 1523 and Utterson's of 181 2 are for the 
use of scholars only ; it is the general reader who 
is here invited to take these stories on trust, one 
only being a new translation,^ and the remaining 
twelve in substance the work of Lord Berners, with 
each passage given practically in full, and altered as 
little as possible in the process of smoothing away 
the stumbling-blocks. In them will be found not 
only history, tragedy, comedy, fairy-tale, and ro- 
mance, in a delightful medley, but many curious 
parallels between our own and other times, and 
some passages still more suggestive, bearing on 
problems which belong to the life of man, and do 
not really change with the passing of centuries. 
From the beginning we shall be struck with the 
evident persistence of national types of character ; 
the coolness of the Anglo-Saxon in fight was not 
more, nor less, conspicuous "down among the 

1 The account of the Battle of Les Espagnols-sur-mer was not contained in the 
MS. used by Lord Berners, but was added by Froissart in his later copies. 



Introduction xxv 

vines" at Poitiers, than in the squares at Waterloo; 
Cressy, where the archers faced a horde of yelHng 
enemies and " stirred not for all that," was the very 
counterpart of Omdurman ; and the Englishmen 
who " shot so wholly together " at Aljubarota were 
the true forefathers of the gunners at Santiago and 
Manila Bay, before whom the Spaniards were once 
more, for all their pride and fierceness, " discomfited 
without recovery." Frenchmen's ideas on the in- 
vasion of England are still what they were in the 
time of Charles VI. and of the first Napoleon : it is 
still "the opinion of divers, that if they might arrive 
all together in England, where they intended to 
land, they should sore abash the country " ; the 
comment is still true, " and so they should, without 
doubt " ; and truer still the Duke of Berry's un- 
popular remark, that, " though we be now a thou- 
sand and five hundred ships, yet before we come 
there we shall not be three hundred ; then behold 
what peril we shall put ourselves in ! " 

In these days we joust no longer, but still " for the 
great desire that we have to come to the knowledge 
of noble gentlemen, strangers, as well on the fron- 
tiers of the realm of France as elsewhere of far 
countries," we send cricketers to Australia and foot- 
ball teams to Paris ; and when the athletes of Har- 
vard or the oarsmen of Cornell come three thou- 
sand miles over sea to meet us on our own ground, 



xxvi Introduction 

we are " right joyful of their high courage and en- 
terprise " : we watch the contest day by day, as our 
ancestors watched the lists at St. Inglevere, marking 
the score as man after man comes out " ready to 
answer " when his name is called, and we understand 
with a perfect understanding the feelings with which 
those sportsmen of five hundred years ago, still 
aching from hard knocks, departed " in courteous 
manner " from their antagonists, and " thanked 
them greatly for their pastime." 

There is in truth more of the modern than the 
antiquated in Froissart, and the better we know him 
the more we shall realize this and understand and 
admire the age in which he lived. It was the age 
of chivalry : a word of much confusion, but one 
worth considering with Froissart's help ; for to him 
it stood neither for a narrow and exaggerated view 
of the position of women, nor for a fantastic love of 
mere adventure : it was nothing sentimental, high- 
flown, or unreal, but a plain rule of life : and we 
may remember that he learned it chiefly among 
Englishmen, the most practical people in Europe. 
The fourteenth, like the nineteenth and all other 
centuries, was cursed, and blessed, with war. Blessed, 
because contest being the law of this material world, 
where order must depend ultimately on force, it is 
natural and right for man to love fighting as he 
loves the sense of life, and the virtues of the soldier 



Introduction xxvii 

are the most desirable of all : cursed, because the 
domination of the animal in us is a danger always 
to be dreaded, as a violation of man's nature and 
the destruction of his hopes. Now in that age the 
Holy Church herself was militant, and the question 
of the absolute wrongfulness of war, which weighs 
so heavily upon the modern world, was perhaps 
never even raised : but if it had been pressed upon 
them as it has been upon us, we may be sure that 
Froissart and those among whom he lived would 
have wondered how any one could so hastily deny 
that man may live happily and honourably in a 
world of arms. To know his answer we have only 
to mark what are the characters he loved : the brave, 
such as those " noble jousters," Sir John d'Ambre- 
ticourt and Sir Reginald de Roye, who "feared 
neither pain nor death," knowing that these are the 
conditions of the game, and not its worst possibil- 
ities : the faithful, such as the French knights and 
squires at Poitiers, " who, though their masters de- 
parted, yet had rather have died than have had any 
reproach," and so died accordingly : the victorious 
King who would have no man proud, but humbly 
to thank God ; the Prince, who loved and served 
his conquered enemy ; the men of honour who 
scorned to mistrust or imprison their captives ; the 
soldiers who wept to see their own general behead- 
ing their enemies in cold blood. For as much as 



xxviii Introduction 

he loved courage Froissart loved gentleness more; 
he is never squeamish over the necessities of war, 
but cruelty he cannot pass by, even in his great and 
admirable patron the Earl of Foix ; and over the 
sack of Limoges he cries aloud, " There was not so 
hard a heart, an if he had any remembrance of God, 
but that wept piteously for the great mischief that 
they saw before their eyes ; for more than three 
thousand men, women and children were slain and 
beheaded that day : God have mercy upon their 
souls, for I trow they were martyrs." He was 
of the mind of Sir John de Vienne and his com- 
panions, who would "endure as much pain as ever 
knights did, rather than consent that the poorest 
lad in the town should have to bear any more 
evil than the greatest of us all," and of Eustace de 
St. Pierre, who thought that " great mischief it 
should be, to suffer to die such people as be in this 
town, when there is a means to save them," by 
giving his own life for theirs. 

By these and many such passages, Froissart has 
shown us not merely his own ideal, but the ideal of 
his age ; for he learned from the knights of England 
and France that which he wrote, and that which he 
wrote was in turn read and approved by them. For 
them, as for Nelson, to be fighting was to be " in 
the full tide of happiness," and I do not doubt that 
tneir descendants, for some generations yet, will feel 



Introduction xxix 

the same stirring of the blood. It will be well if 
they will frankly own to it, taking care that at the 
same time they keep alive the soldierly instincts of 
discipline, generosity, loyalty, and fair play ; that 
the new men of arms, like the old, look with sym- 
pathy on all human fortitude, and with tenderness 
on all human suffering ; that they learn, like their 
ancestors, to fight without hatred, to conquer with- 
out insolence, and to meet death without terror ; to 
think of honour as the true self-interest, and of 
nobility as the right to serve. 



PROLOGUE 

TO the intent that the honourable and noble 
adventures and feats of arms done and 
achieved in the wars of France and Eng- 
land should notably be enregistered and put in 
perpetual memory, whereby the brave and hardy 
may have ensample to encourage them in their 
well-doing, I, Sir John Froissart, will treat and 
record a history of great merit and praise. 

But before I begin, I entreat the Saviour of all 
the world. Who out of nothing created all things, 
that He will give me such grace and understand- 
ing that I may continue and persevere in such 
wise, that whoso readeth or heareth this book, may 
take profit, pleasure, and ensample. 

To acquit me in that behalf, and in following the 
truth as near as I can, I have undertaken this his- 
tory on the foresaid ordinance and true foundation : 
and God grant me to do that thing that may be to 
His pleasure. Amen. 



THE BATTLE OF SLUYS 



STORIES FROM FROISSART 



I. THE BATTLE OF SLUYS 

Of the Battle on the Sea before Sluys in Flanders, be- 
tween the King of England and the Frenchmen 

IN the year of our Lord MCCCXL King Ed- 
ward the Third of England was on the sea to 
the intent to arrive in Flanders, and so into 
Hainault, to make war against the Frenchmen. 

This was on Midsummer eve that all the English 
fleet was departed out of the river of Thames, and 
took the way to Sluys. And at the same time be- 
tween Blanckenburg and Sluys on the sea were Sir 
Hugh Ouiriel, Sir Peter Bahucet and Barbenoire, 
with more than six score great vessels besides 
others, and they had aboard, of Normans, light 
troops, Genoese and Picards, about the number 
of forty thousand. There they were laid by the 
French King to defend the passage against the 
King of England. 

The King of England and his came sailing till 
he came before Sluys ; and when he saw so great a 

3 



4 The Battle of Sluys 

number of ships that their masts seemed to be like 
a great wood, he demanded of the Master of his 
ship, what people he thought they were. 

He answered and said, " Sir, I think they be 
Normans, laid here by the French King, and they 
have done great displeasure in England, burnt your 
town of Southampton, and taken your great ship 
the Christopher r 

" Ah ! " said the King. " 1 have long desired to 
fight with the Frenchmen : and now shall I fight 
with some of them, by the Grace of God and St. 
George : for truly they have done me so many dis- 
pleasures, that I shall be revenged if I may." 

Then the King set all his ships in order, the 
greatest before, well furnished with archers : and 
ever between two ships of archers he had one ship 
with men of arms : and then he made another 
division of the fleet to lie aloof with archers, to 
support ever them that were most weary, if need 
were. And there were a great number of Count- 
esses, Ladies, Knights' wives and other damsels, 
that were going to see the Queen at Ghent : these 
ladies the King caused to be well guarded with three 
hundred men of arms and five hundred archers. 

When the King and his marshals had set in order 
his divisions he drew up the sails, and came with a 
quarter wind, to have the vantage of the sun. And 
at the last they turned a little, to get the wind as 



The Battle of Sluys 5 

they wished it : and when the Normans saw them 
turn back, they had marvel why they did so. And 
some said, " They think themselves not meet to 
meddle with us : wherefore they will go back." 

They saw well how the King of England was 
there personally, by reason of his banners. Then 
they did apparel their fleet in order ; for they were 
sage and good men of war on the sea : and did set 
the Christopher^ which they had won the year before, 
to be foremost, with many trumpets and instru- 
ments, and so set on their enemies. 

There began a sore battle on both parts : archers 
and crossbows began to shoot, and men of arms 
approached and fought hand to hand : and the 
better to come together, they had great hooks and 
grapplers of iron, to cast out of one ship into 
another, and so tied them fast together. There 
were many deeds of arms done, taking and rescuing 
again : and at last the great Christopher was first 
won by the Englishmen, and all that were within 
it taken or slain. Then there Vv^as great noise and 
cry, and the Englishmen approached, and fortified 
the Christopher with archers, and made him to pass 
on before, to fight with the Genoese. 

This battle was right fierce and terrible ; for the 
battles on the sea are more dangerous and fiercer 
than the battles by land. For on the sea there is 
no drawing back nor fleeing : there is no remedy 



6 The Battle of Sluys 

but to fight and to abide fortune, and every man 
to show his prowess. 

Of a truth Sir Hugh Quiriel, and Sir Peter 
Bahucet, and Barbenoire were right good and ex- 
pert men of war. This battle endured from the 
morning till it was noon, and the Englishmen 
endured much pain, for their enemies were four 
against one, and all good men on the sea. 

There the King of England showed himself 
a noble knight of his own hand : he was in the 
flower of his youth. In like wise so did the 
Earls of Derby, Pembroke, Hereford, Huntingdon, 
Northampton and Gloucester; Sir Reginald Cob- 
ham, Sir Richard Stafford, the Lord Percy, Sir 
Walter Manny, Sir Henry of Flanders, Sir John 
Beauchamp, the Lord Felton, the Lord Bradeston, 
Sir John Chandos, the Lord Delawarr, the Lord 
Multon, Sir Robert d'Artois, called Earl of Rich- 
mond, and divers other lords and knights, who 
bare themselves so valiantly, with some succours 
that they had from Bruges and from the country 
thereabout, that they obtained the victory. So 
that the Frenchmen, Normans, and others were 
discomfited, slain and drowned : there was not one 
that scaped, but all were slain. 

When this victory was achieved, the King all 
that night abode in his ship before Sluys, with 
great noise of trumpets and other instruments. 



The Battle of Sluys 7 

Thither came to see the King divers men of Flan- 
ders, such as had heard of the King's coming : and 
on the next day, which was Midsummer Day, the 
King and all his people took land, and the King 
on foot went a pilgrimage to our Lady of Ardem- 
bourg and there heard Mass, and dined : and then 
took his horse and rode to Ghent, where the Queen 
received him with great joy, and all his baggage 
train came after him by little and Httle. 

But when the French King heard how his army 
on the sea was discomfited, he dislodged, and drew 
off to Arras, and gave leave to his men to depart, 
till he heard other tidings. 



THE BATTLE OF CRESSY 



II. THE BATTLE OF CRESSY 

How the King of England came over the Sea again, 
and rode with his army in three battahons through 
Normandy 

THE King of England had heard how certain 
of his men were sore constrained in the 
Castle of Aiguillon, where the Duke of 
Normandy and the Lords of France had laid their 
siege. Then the King caused a great navy of ships 
to be ready in the haven of Southampton, and 
caused all manner of men of war to draw thither 
about the feast of St. John Baptist in the year of 
our Lord God MCCCXLV. 

Then the King rode to Southampton and there 
tarried for wind : then he entered into his ship, and 
the Prince of Wales with him, and the Lord God- 
frey Harcourt : and all other lords, earls, barons and 
knights with all their companies. 

Now I shall name you certain of the lords that 
went over with King Edward in that journey. 
First, Edward his eldest son, Prince of Wales, who 
was then of the age of sixteen years or thereabout : 
the Earls of Hereford, Northampton, Arundel, 



12 The Battle of Cressy 

Cornwall, Warwick, Huntingdon, Suffolk and Ox- 
ford. And of barons, the Lord Mortimer, who 
was afterwards Earl of March : the Lords John, 
Louis and Roger Beauchamp, and the Lord Regi- 
nald Cobham : of lords, the Lords Mowbray, Roos, 
Lucy, Felton, Bradeston, Multon, Leyburn, Mau- 
ley, Basset, Barlett and Willoughby, with divers 
other lords: and of knights bachelors. Sir John 
Chandos, Sir Fulk Fitzwarren, Sir Peter and Sir 
James Audley, Sir Roger Vertuall, Sir Bartholo- 
mew Burghersh and Sir Richard Pembridge, with 
divers others that I cannot name. 

When the King arrived in the Hogue he issued 
out of his ship, and the first foot that he set on 
the ground he fell so rudely that the blood burst 
out of his nose : the knights that were about him 
took him up, and said, " Sir, for God's sake enter 
again into your ship, and come not a-land this day : 
for this is but an evil sign for us." 

Then the King answered quickly, and said : 
"Wherefore? This is a good token for me, for 
the land desireth to have me." Of the which an- 
swer all his men were right joyful. 

So that day and night the King lodged on the 
sands, and in the meantime discharged the ships of 
their horses and other baggages. 

/There the King made two marshals of his host : 
me one the Lord Godfrey Harcourt, and the other 



The Battle of Cressy 13 

the Earl of Warwick : and the Earl of Arundel, 
I Constable. And he ordained that the Earl of 
Huntingdon should guard the fleet of ships with a 
hundred men of arms and four hundred archers. 
And also he ordained three battalions, one to go 
on his right hand, closing to the seaside, and the 
other on his left hand, and the King himself in the 
midst, and every night to lodge all in one camp. 

Thus they set forth as they were ordained, and 
they that went by the sea took all the ships that 
they found in their ways ; and they went forth so 
long, what by sea and what by land, that they came 
to a good port and to a good town called Barfleur, 
the which was won instantly: for they within gave 
up for fear of death. Howbeit, for all that, the 
town was robbed, and much gold and silver there 
found, and rich jewels : there was found so much 
riches that the boys and servants of the host set no 
store by good furred gowns. 

They made all the men of the town to issue out 
and to go into the ships, because they would not 
suffer them to remain behind them for fear of re- 
belling again. 

After the town of Barfleur was thus taken and 
robbed, without burning, then they spread abroad 
in the country, and did what they listed : for there 
was none to resist them. At last they came to a 
great and a rich town called Cherbourg : the town 



14 The Battle of Cressy 

they won, and robbed it, and burnt part thereof, 
but into the castle they could not come, it was so 
strong and well furnished with men of war : then 
they passed forth and came to Montebourg, and 
took it, and robbed and burnt it clean. 

In this manner they burnt many other towns in 
that country and won so much riches that it was 
marvel to reckon it. It was hard to think the great 
riches that there was won, in clothes specially : cloth 
would there have been sold good cheap, if there 
had been any buyers. 

Then the King went towards Caen, and took it ; 
and the Englishmen were lords of the town three 
days, and won great riches, the which they sent by 
barques and barges to St. Sauveur, by the river of 
Estreham, a two leagues thence, where all their 
navy lay. 

How Sir Godfrey Harcourt fought with them of Amiens 
before Paris 

Thus the King of England ordered his business, 
being in the town of Caen, and sent into England 
his navy of ships charged with clothes, jewels, 
vessels of gold and silver and other riches : and of 
prisoners more than sixty knights and three hun- 
dred burgesses. 

Then he departed from the town of Caen and 



The Battle of Cressy 15 

rode in the same order as he did before, burning 
and wasting the country ; and took the way to 
Evreux and so passed by it. Then they entered 
into the country of Evreux, and burnt and pillaged 
all except the good walled towns and castles, to 
which the King made no assault, because of sparing 
his people and his artillery. 

Then the Englishmen passed by Rouen, and went 
to Gisors, where was a strong castle : they burnt 
the town, and then they burnt Vernon and all the 
country about Rouen and Pont de TArche, and 
came to Nantes and to Meulan and wasted all the 
country about : and passed by the strong castle of 
Roulleboise ; and in every place along the river of 
Seine they found the bridges broken. 

At last they came to Poissy, and found the bridge 
broken, but the arches and joists lay in the river. 
The King lay there a five days, and in the mean 
season the bridge was made good, to pass the host 
without peril. 

The English Marshals ran abroad almost as far 
as Paris, and burnt St. Germain-en-Laye, and 
Montjoye, and St. Cloud, and Boulogne near Paris, 
and Bourg la Reine : and they of Paris were not 
well assured of their own safety, for Paris was not 
then walled. 

/ Then King Philip of France removed to St. 

f Denis, and before he went, caused all the pent- 



1 6 The Battle of Cressy 

houses in Paris to be pulled down. And at St. 
Denis were already come the King of Bohemia, the 
Lord John of Hainault, the Duke of Lorraine, 
the Earl of Flanders, the Earl of Blois, and many- 
other great lords and knights, ready to serve the 
French King. 

When the people of Paris saw their king depart, 
they came to him and kneeled down and said, 
" Ah ! Sir and noble King, what will ye do, that ye 
leave thus this noble city of Paris ? " 

The King said, " My good people, doubt ye not, 
the Englishmen will approach you no nearer than 
they be." 

" Why so. Sir ? " said they, " they be within 
these two leagues ; and so soon as they know of 
your departing, they will come and assail us, and 
we be not able to defend ourselves against them : 
Sir, tarry here still and help to defend your good 
city of Paris." 

" Speak no more," said the King, " for I will go to 
St. Denis, to my men of war : for I will encounter 
the Englishmen, and fight against them, whatsoever 
may come thereof." 

The King of England was then at Poissy, and 
lodged in the nunnerv there, and kept there the 
feast of our Lady in August, and sat in his robes 
of scarlet furred with ermine : and after that feast he 
went forth in order as they were before. 



The Battle of Cressy 17 

The Lord Godfrey Harcourt rode out on the one 
side with five hundred men of arms and thirteen 
hundred archers : and by adventure he encountered 
a great number of burgesses of Amiens a-horseback, 
who were riding by the King's commandment to 
Paris. They were quickly assailed, but they de- 
fended themselves valiantly, for they were a great 
number and well armed. There were four knights 
of Amiens who were their Captains. 

This skirmish lasted long : at the first meeting 
many were overthrown on both parts, but finally 
the burgesses were taken and nigh all slain, and the 
Englishmen took all their carriages and harness. 
They were well stuffed with riches, for they were 
going to the French King well appointed, because 
they had not seen him for a great season before. 
There were slain in the field a twelve hundred. 

Then the King of England entered into the 
Country of Beauvoisin, burning and wasting the 
plain country; and lodged at a fair abbey and a 
rich, called St. Messien, near to Beauvais. There 
the King tarried a night and in the morning de- 
parted : and when he was on his way he looked 
behind him and saw the abbey afire. He caused 
instantly twenty to be hanged of them that set the 
fire there ; for he had commanded before, on pain 
of death, none to violate any church or to burn any 
abbey. 



1 8 The Battle of Cressy 

Then they came to Airaines and there lodged ; 
for there the King was minded to lie a day or two, 
to take advice how he might pass the river of 
Somme : for it was necessary for him to pass the 
river, as ye shall hear afterwards. 



How the French King followed the King of England 
in the Country of Beauvais 

Now let us speak of King Philip, who was at St. 
Denis and his people about him, and they daily in- 
creased. Then on a day he departed and rode so 
long that he came to Coppigny du Guise, a three 
leagues from Amiens, and there he tarried. 

The King of England being at Airaines wist not 
where to pass the river of Somme, the which was 
large and deep, and all bridges were broken and the 
passages well guarded. Then at the King's com- 
mandment his two marshals with a thousand men 
of arms and two thousand archers went along the 
river to find some passage, and passed by Lompre 
and came to the bridge of Remy, the which was 
well guarded with a great number of knights and 
squires and men of the country. 

The Englishmen alighted a-foot, and assailed the 
Frenchmen from the morninor till it was noon : but 

o 

the bridge was so well fortified and defended, that 
the Englishmen departed without winning anything. 



The Battle of Cressy 19 

Then they went to a great town called Fontaines, 
on the river of Somme, the which was clean robbed 
and burnt, for it was not walled. Then they went 
to another town called Long, in Ponthieu ; they 
could not win the bridge, it was so well kept and 
defended. Then they departed and went to Pec- 
quigny, and found the town, the bridge, and the 
castle, so well fortified, that it was not a likely place 
to cross there. 

. The French King had so well defended the pas- 
sages, to the intent that the King of England should 
not pass the river of Somme to fight with him 
at his advantage, or else he meant to famish him 
there. 

When these two marshals had essayed in all 
places to find passage, and could find none, they 
returned again to the King, and showed how they 
could find no passage in no place. The same night 
the French King came to Amiens with more than a 
hundred thousand men. 

The King of England was right pensive, and the 
next morning heard Mass before the sunrising, and 
then dislodged ; and every man followed the mar- 
shals' banners. And so they rode into the country 
of Vimeu, approaching to the good town of Abbe- 
ville : and found a town thereby, whereunto was 
come much people of the country, trusting to a little 
fort that was there : but the Englishmen anon won 



10 The Battle of Cressy 

it, and all they that were within were slain, and 
many taken of the town and of the country. The 
King took his lodging in a great hospital that was 
there. 

The same day the French King departed from 
Amiens and came to Airaines about noon ; and the 
Englishmen had departed thence in the morning. 
The Frenchmen found there a great provision that 
the Englishmen had left behind them, because they 
departed in haste : there they found flesh ready on 
the spits, bread and pasties in the ovens, wine in 
tuns and barrels, and the tables ready laid. There 
the French King lodged, and tarried for his lords. 

That night the King of England was lodged at 
Oisemont. At night when the two marshals were 
returned, who had that day over-run the country to 
the gates of Abbeville and to St. Valery, and made 
a great skirmish there, the King assembled together 
his council, and made to be brought before him 
certain prisoners of the country. 

The King right courteously demanded of them if 
there were any among them that knew any passage 
below Abbeville, that he and his host might pass 
over the river of Somme : if he would show him 
thereof, he should be quit of his ransom, and twenty 
more of his company for his sake. 

There was a varlet called Gobyn a Grace, who 
stepped forth and said to the King, " Sir, I promise 



C 



The Battle of Cressy 21 

you, on the jeopardy of my head, 1 shall bring you 
to such a place, where ye and all your host shall 
pass the river of Somme without peril. There be 
certain places in the passage that ye shall pass, twelve 
men a-front, two times between day and night : ye 
shall not go in the water to the knees: but when the 
tide Cometh, the river then waxeth so great that no 
man can pass : but when the tide is gone, the which 
is two times between day and night, then the river 
is so low that it may be passed without danger, both 
a-horseback and a-foot. The passage is hard in the 
bottom with white stones, so that all your baggage- 
train may go safely : therefore the passage is called 
Blanchetaque. If ye make ready to depart betimes 
ye may be there by the sunrising." 

The King said, " If this be true that ye say, I quit 
thee thy ransom, and all thy company, and more- 
over shall give thee a hundred nobles in money." 
Then the King commanded every man to be ready, 
at the sound of the trumpet, to depart. 

Of the Battle of Blanchetaque between the King of Eng- 
land and Sir Godemar du Fay 

The King of England slept not much that night, 
for at midnight he arose and sounded his trumpet : 
then instantly they made ready carriages and all 
things. And at the breaking of the day they de- 



11 The Battle of Cressy 

parted from the town of Oisemont, and rode after 
the guiding of Gobyn a Grace so that they came by 
the sunrising to Blanchetaque : but then the tide 
was up so that they might not pass. So the King 
tarried there till it was six o'clock : then the ebb 
came. 

The French King had his scouts in the country 
who brought him word of the demeanour of the 
Englishmen. Then he thought to shut in the King 
of England between Abbeville and the river of 
Somme and so to fight with him at his pleasure. 

And when he was at Amiens he had ordained a 
great baron of Normandy called Sir Godemar du 
Fay to go and keep the passage of Blanchetaque, 
where the Englishmen must pass, or else in none 
other place. He had with him a thousand men of 
arms and six thousand a-foot, with the Genoese. So 
they went by St. Ricquier in Ponthieu, and from 
thence to Crotoy, where the passage lay. And also 
he had with him a great number of men of the 
country, so that they were a twelve thousand men, 
one and other. 

When the English host was come thither, Sir 
Godemar du Fay arranged all his company to defend 
the passage. The King of England stayed not for 
all that ; but when the tide was gone, he com- 
manded his marshals to enter into the water in the 
name of God and St. George. 




The Battle of Blanchetaque 



The Battle of Cressy 23 

Then they that were hardy and courageous entered 
on both sides, and many a man was overthrown. 
There were some of the Frenchmen of Artois and 
Picardy that were as glad to tilt in the water as on 
the dry land. The Frenchmen defended so well 
the passage while the Englishmen were issuing out 
of the water that they had much to do : the Genoese 
did them much trouble with their crossbows. 

On the other side the archers of England shot so 
wholly together that the Frenchmen were fain to 
give place to the Englishmen. There was a sore 
battle, and many a noble feat of arms done on both 
sides : finally the Englishmen passed over and as- 
sembled together in the field : the King and the 
Prince passed, and all the lords : then the French- 
men kept no order but departed, he that might best. 

When Sir Godemar saw that discomfiture, he fled 
and saved himself. Some fled to Abbeville and 
some to St. Ricquier: they that were there a-foot 
could not fiee, so that there were slain a great num- 
ber of them : the chase endured more than a great 
league. 

But when as yet all the Englishmen were not 
passed over the river, certain scouts of the King of 
Bohemia and of Sir John of Hainault came on them 
that were behind, and took certain horses and car- 
riages, and slew divers before they could take the 
passage. 



24 The Battle of Cressy 

The French King the same morning was departed 
from Airalnes trusting to have found the English- 
men between him and the river of Somme: but 
when he heard how that Sir Godemar du Fay and his 
company were discomfited, he tarried in the field, 
and demanded of his marshals what was best to do. 

They said, " Sir, ye cannot pass the river but 
at the bridge of Abbeville, for the tide is come in 
at Blanchetaque." Then he returned, and lodged at 
Abbeville. 

The King of England, when he was past the 
river, he thanked God ; and so rode forth in like 
manner as he did before. Then he called Gobyn a 
Grace and did give him his ransom, and all his 
company : and gave him a hundred nobles in money 
and a good horse. 

And so the King rode forth fair and easily, and 
his marshals rode to Crotoy on the seaside, and 
burnt the town, and found in the haven many ships 
and barques with wines of Ponthieu, pertaining to 
the merchants of Saintonge and la Rochelle : they 
brought the best thereof to the King's host. 

Then one of the marshals rode to the gates of 
Abbeville, and from thence to St. Ricquier and 
afterwards to the town of St. Esprit. This was on 
a Friday, and both battalions of the marshals re- 
turned to the King's host about noon ; and so 
lodged all together near to Cressy in Ponthieu. 



The Battle of Cressy 25 

The King of England was well informed how 
the French King followed after him to fight : then 
he said to his company, " Let us take here some 
plot of ground, for we will go no further till we 
have seen our enemies. I have good cause here to 
abide them, for I am on the right heritage of the 
Queen, my mother, the which land was given to her 
at her marriage : I will challenge it of mine adver- 
sary, Philip of Valois." 

And because that he had not the eighth part in 
number of men as the French King had, therefore 
he commanded his marshals to choose a plot of 
ground somewhat for his vantage : and so they did, 
and thither the King and his host went. 

Then he sent his scouts to Abbeville, to see if 
the French King drew that day into the field or not. 
They went forth and returned again, and said how 
they could see no appearance of his coming. Then 
every man took their lodging for that day, and to 
be ready in the morning at the sound of the trum- 
pet, in the same place. 

Thus on Friday the French King tarried still in 
Abbeville, waiting for his company : and sent his 
two marshals to ride out to see the dealing of the 
Englishmen : and at night they returned, and said 
how the Englishmen were lodged in the fields. 

That night the French King made a supper to all 
the chief lords that were there with him : and after 



26 The Battle of Cressy 

supper the King desired them to be friends each to 
other. The King looked for the Earl of Savoy, who 
should come to him with a thousand spears : for he 
had received wages for a three months of them, at 
Troyes in Champaigne. 



Of the order of the Englishmen at Cressy, and how they 
made three Battalions a-foot 

On the Friday, as I said before, the King of 
England lay in the fields : for the country was 
plentiful of wines and other victual, and if need had 
been they had provision following in carts and other 
carriages. 

That night the King made a supper to all his 
chief lords of his host, and made them good cheer. 
And when they were all departed to take their rest, 
then the King entered into his oratory, and kneeled 
down before the altar, praying God devoutly that if 
he fought the next day, he might achieve the day's 
work to his honour. 

Then about midnight he laid him down to rest : 
and in the morning he rose betimes, and heard 
Mass, and the Prince his son with him : and the 
most part of his company were confessed and had 
absolution. 

And after the Mass said, he commanded every \ 
man to be armed and to draw to the field, to the 



The Battle of Cressy 27 

same place before appointed : then the King caused 
a park to be made, by the woodside behind his host ; 
and there they set all carts and carriages, and within 
the park were all their horses, for every man was 
a-foot : and into this park there was but one entry. 

Then he ordained the battalions. In the first 
was the young Prince of Wales : with him the Earls 
of Warwick and Stafford, the Lord Godfrey Har- 
court. Sir Reginald Cobham, Sir Thomas Holland, 
the Lord Stafford, the Lord Mauley, the Lord 
Delawarr, Sir John Chandos, Sir Bartholomew 
Burghersh, Sir Robert Neville, the Lord Thomas 
Clifford, the Lord Bourchier, the Lord Latimer, 
and divers other knights and squires that I cannot 
name : they were an eight hundred men of arms 
and two thousand archers, and a thousand of others, 
with the Welshmen. Every lord drew to the field 
appointed, under his own banner and pennon. 

In the second battalion were the Earl of North- 
ampton, the Earl of Arundel, the Lord Roos, the 
Lord Lygo, the Lord Willoughby, the Lord Basset, 
the Lord St. Amand, Sir Louis Tufton, the Lord 
Malton, the Lord Lascelles, and divers others, 
about eight hundred men of arms and twelve hun- 
dred archers. 

The King had the third battalion : he had seven 
hundred men of arms and two thousand archers. 

Then the King leapt on a horse, with a white rod 



28 The Battle of Cressy 

in his hand, one of his marshals on the one hand 
and the other on the other hand : he rode from 
rank to rank, desiring every man to take heed that 
day to his right and honour. He spake it so 
sweetly, and with so good countenance and merry 
cheer, that all such as were discomfited took cour- 
age in the saying and hearing of him. 

And when he had thus visited all his battalions, 
it was then nine of the day : then he caused every 
man to eat and drink a little ; and so they did at 
their leisure. And afterward they again set in order 
their battalions : then every man lay down on the 
earth, and by him his steel cap and bow, to be the 
more fresher when their enemies should come. 



The order of the Frenchmen at Cressy, and how they 
beheld the demeanour of the Englishmen 

This Saturday the French King rose betimes, 
and heard Mass in Abbeville in his lodging in the 
Abbey of St. Peter : and he departed after the sun- 
rising. 

Whenhewasout of the town two leagues, approach- 
ing towards his enemies, some of his lords said to 
him, " Sir, it were good that ye set in order your 
battalions, and let all your footmen pass somewhat 
on before, that they be not troubled with the horse- 
men. 



The Battle of Cressy 29 

Then the King sent four knights, the Lord 
Moyne of Bastleburg, the Lord of Noyers, the 
Lord of Beaujeu, and the Lord d'Aubigny, to 
ride to view the EngUsh host : and so they rode so 
near that they might well see part of their dealing. 
The Englishmen saw them well, and knew well 
how they were come thither to view them : they let 
them alone, and made no countenance toward them, 
and let them return as they came. 

And when the French King saw these four 
knights return again, he tarried till they came to 
him, and said, " Sirs, what tidings ? " 

These four knights each of them looked on other, 
for there was none would speak before his com- 
panion : finally the King said to Moyne, who per- 
tained to the King of Bohemia, and had done in his- 
days so much that he was reputed for one of the 
valiantest knights of the world, " Sir, speak you." 

Then he said, " Sir, I shall speak since it pleaseth 
you, under the correction of my fellows. Sir, we 
have ridden and seen the behaving of your enemies ; 
know ye for truth they are halted in three battalions, 
abiding for you. Sir, I will counsel you, as for my 
part, saving your displeasure, that you and all your 
company rest here and lodge for this night : for be- 
fore they of your company that be behind be come 
hither, and before your battalions be set in good order, 
it will be very late, and your people be weary and out 



JO The Battle of Cressy 

of array : and ye shall find your enemies fresh and 
ready to receive you. Early in the morning ye 
may order your battalions at more leisure, and ad- 
vise concerning your enemies at more deliberation, 
and regard well what way ye will assail them ; for. 
Sir, surely they will abide you." 

Then the King commanded that it should be 
done. Then his two marshals rode one before, 
and other behind, saying to every banner, " Tarry 
and abide here, in the name of God and St. Denis." 

They that were foremost tarried, but they that 
were behind would not tarry, but rode forth, and 
said how they would in no wise abide till they were 
so far forward as the foremost. And when those 
before saw them come on behind, then they rode 
forward again, so that the King nor his marshals 
could not rule them. 

So they rode without order or good array till 
they came in sight of their enemies. And as soon 
as the foremost saw them they recoiled aback with- 
out good array : whereof those behind had marvel, 
and were abashed, and thought that the foremost 
company had been fighting. Then they might 
have had leisure and room to have gone forward, 
if they had listed. Some went forward and some 
abode still : the common soldiers, of whom all 
the roads between Abbeville and Cressy were full, 
when they saw that they were near to their enemies. 



The Battle of Cressy 31 

they took their swords and cried, " Down with 
them ! let us slay them all ! " 

There was no man, though he were present at 
that day's work, that could imagine or shew the 
truth of the evil order that was among the French 
party : and yet they were a marvellous great num- 
ber. That which I write in this book I learned it 
specially of the Englishmen, who well beheld their 
dealing : and also certain knights of Sir John of 
Hainault's, who was always about King Philip, 
shewed me all they knew. 

Of the Battle of Cressy between the King of England and 
the French King 

The Englishmen, who were in three battalions, 
lying on the ground to rest them, as soon as they 
saw the Frenchmen approach, they rose upon their 
feet fair and easily, without any haste, and arranged 
their battalions. 

The first were the Prince's battalion : the archers 
there stood in manner of a harrow, and the men 
of arms at the rear of the battalion. The Earl of 
Northampton and the Earl of Arundel were on a 
wing in good order, ready to support the Prince's 
battalion, if need were. 

The lords and knights of France came not to the 
assembly together in good order, for some came 



32 The Battle of Cressy 

before and some came after, in such haste and evil 
order that one of them did trouble another. 

When the French King saw the Englishmen, his 
blood changed, and he said to his marshals, " Make 
the Genoese go on before, and begin the battle in 
the name of God and St. Denis." 

There were of the Genoese crossbows about fif- 
teen thousand, but they were so weary of going a 
six leagues a-foot that day, armed with their cross- 
bows, that they said to their constables, " We be 
not well ordered to fight this day, for we be not in 
the condition to do any great deed of arms ; we 
have more need of rest." 

These words came to the Earl of Alen^on, who 
said, " A man is well off to be burdened with such 
a sort of rascals, to be faint and fail now at most 
need! " 

Also at the same time there fell a great rain, and 
an eclipse of the sun, with a terrible thunder, and 
before the rain there came flying over both armies 
a great number of crows, for fear of the tempest 
coming. Then anon the air began to wax clear, 
and the sun to shine fair and bright ; the which was 
right in the Frenchmen's eyes and on the English- 
men's backs. 

When the Genoese were assembled together and 
began to approach, they made a great leap and cry, 
to abash the Englishmen ; but they stood still and 



^ 






SesS^^ MB' ^^illmv^vf li^Pmvl^ 







The Battle of Cressy 



The Battle of Cressy ^3 

stirred not for all that. Then the Genoese again 
the second time made another leap and a fell cry, 
and stepped forward a little ; and the Englishmen 
removed not one foot : thirdly again they leapt 
and cried and went forward till they came within 
shot : then they shot fiercely with their crossbows. 

Then the English archers stepped forth one pace, 
and let fly their arrows so wholly together and so 
thick that it seemed snow. When the Genoese felt 
the arrows piercing through heads, arms and breasts, 
many of them cast down their crossbows, and did 
cut their strings, and returned discomfited. 

When the French King saw them fly away, he 
said, " Slay these rascals, for they will let and 
trouble us without reason." Then ye should have 
seen the men of arms dash in among them, and 
kill a great number of them. 

And ever still the Englishmen shot where they 
saw thickest press : the sharp arrows ran into the 
men of arms and into their horses, and many fell, 
horse and man, among the Genoese : and when 
they were down they could not rise again, the press 
was so thick that one overthrew another. 

And also among the Englishmen there were cer- 
tain rascals that went a-foot, with great knives : and 
they went in among the men of arms, and slew and 
murdered many as they lay on the ground, both 
earls, barons, knights, and squires : whereof the 



34 The Battle of Cressy 

King of England was afterwards displeased, for he 
had rather they had been taken prisoners. 

The valiant King of Bohemia, called Charles of 
Luxembourg, son to the noble Emperor Henry of 
Luxembourg, for all that he was nigh blind, when 
he understood the order of the battle, he said to 
them about him, " Where is the Lord Charles my 
son r 

His men said, " Sir, we cannot tell ; we think he 
be fighting." 

Then he said : " Sirs, ye are my men, my com- 
panions and friends in this day's work. I require 
you, bring me so far forward that I may strike one 
stroke with my sword." 

They said they would do his commandment ; and 
to the intent that they should not lose him in the 
press, they tied all their reins of their bridles each 
to other, and set the King in front to accomplish 
his desire, and so they went on their enemies. 

The Lord Charles of Bohemia his son, who 
wrote himself King of Bohemia and bore the arms, 
came in good order to the battle : but when he saw 
that the matter went awry on their side, he departed, 
I cannot tell you which way. 

The King, his father, was so far forward that he 
struck a stroke with his sword, yea, and more than 
four, and fought valiantly. And so did his com- 
pany ; and they adventured themselves so forward 



The Battle of Cressy ^r 

that they were there all slain : and the next day they 
were found in the place, about the King, and all 
their horses tied each to other. 

The Earl of Alen^on came to the battle in right 
good order, and fought with the Englishmen ; and 
the Earl of Flanders also on his part : these two 
lords with their companies coasted past the English 
archers, and came to the Prince's battalion and there 
fought valiantly for a long time. The French 
King would fain have come thither, when he saw 
their banners, but there was a great hedge of archers 
before him. 

The same day the French King had given a great 
black courser to Sir John of Hainault, and Sir John 
of Hainault made the Lord John de Fusselles to 
ride on him, and to bear his banner. The same 
horse took the bridle in the teeth, and brought him 
through all the outposts of the Englishmen : and as 
he would have returned again he fell into a great 
ditch, and was sore hurt, and had there been dead 
if his page had not been there, who followed him 
through all the battalions and saw where his master 
lay in the ditch : he had none other hindrance but 
for his horse, for the Englishmen would not issue 
out of their battalion for taking of any prisoner. 
Then the page alighted and raised up his master ; 
then went not back again the same way that they 
came ; there was too many in his way. 



j6 The Battle of Cressy 

This battle, fought between la Broyes and Cressy 
this Saturday, was right cruel and fell, and many a 
feat of arms was done that came not to my knowledge. 
In the night divers knights and squires lost their 
masters, and sometimes came on the Englishmen, 
who received them in such wise that they were ever 
nigh slain, for there was none taken to mercy nor to 
ransom, for so the Englishmen were determined. 

In the morning, the day of the battle, certain 
Frenchmen and Germans perforce broke through 
the archers of the Prince's battalion, and came and 
fought with the men of arms hand to hand. Then 
the second battalion of the Englishmen came to 
succour the Prince's battalion, the which was time, 
for they had then much ado : and those with the 
Prince sent a messenger to the King, who was on a 
little .windmill hill. 

Then the knight said to the King, " Sir, the Earl 
of Warwick and the Earl of Stafford, Sir Reginald 
Cobham, and other such as be about the Prince 
your son, are fiercely fought withal, and are sore 
handled : wherefore they desire you that you and 
your battalion will come and aid them, for if the 
Frenchmen increase, as they doubt they will, your 
son and they shall have much ado." 

Then the King said, " Is my son dead, or hurt, 
or on the earth felled ? " 

" No, Sir," said the knight, " but he is hardly 
matched ; wherefore he hath need of your aid." 



The Battle of Cressy 37 

" Well," said the King, " return to him, and to 
them that sent you hither, and say to them that 
they send no more to me, whatever adventure be- 
falleth, as long as my son is alive : and also say to 
them, that they suffer him this day to win his spurs, 
for if God be pleased, I will that this day's work be 
his, and the honour thereof, and to them that be 
about him." 

Then the knight returned again to them, and 
showed the King's words, the which greatly encour- 
aged them : and they repented in that they had sent 
to the King as they did. 

Sir Godfrey Harcourt would gladly that the Earl 
of Harcourt, his brother, might have been saved ; 
for he heard say, by them that saw his banner, how 
that he was there in the field on the French side : 
but Sir Godfrey could not come to him betimes, for 
he was slain before he could come at him, and so 
was also the Earl of Aumale, his nephew. 

In another place the Earl of Alencon and the 
Earl of Flanders fought valiantly, every lord under 
his own banner : but finally they could not resist 
against the puissance of the Englishmen, and so 
there they were also slain, and divers other knights 
and squires. 

Also the Earl Louis of Blois, nephew to the 
French King, and the Duke of Lorraine, fought 
under their own banners : but at last they were 



38 The Battle of Cressy 

closed in among a company of Englishmen and 
Welshmen, and there were slain for all their prow- 
ess. Also there was slain the Earl of Auxerre, the 
Earl of St. Pol, and many others. In the evening 
the French King had left about him no more than 
a threescore persons, one and other, whereof one 
was Sir John of Hainault, who had remounted the 
King once, for his horse was slain with an arrow. 

Then he said to the King, " Sir, depart hence, for 
it is time ; lose not yourself wilfully : if ye have 
loss at this time, ye shall recover it again another 
season." And so he took the King's horse by the 
bridle, and led him away, in a manner perforce. 

Then the King rode till he came to the Castle of 
la Broyes : the gate was closed because it was by 
that time dark. 

Then the King called the captain, who came to 
the walls, and said, " Who is it that calleth there 
this time of night ^ " 

Then the King said, " Open your gates quickly, 
for this is the fortune of France." 

The captain knew then that it was the King, and 
opened the gate and let down the bridge. Then 
the King entered : and he had with him but five 
barons, Sir John of Hainault, Sir Charles of Mont- 
morency, the Lord of Beaujeu, the Lord d'Aubigny, 
and the Lord of Mountfort. The King would not 
tarry there, but drank, and departed thence about 



The Battle of Cressy jo 

midnight, and so rode by such guides as knew the 
country till he came in the morning to Amiens, and 
there he rested. 

This Saturday the Englishmen never departed 
from their battalions for chasing of any man, but 
still kept their field, and ever defended themselves 
against all such as came to assail them. This battle 
ended about evensong time. 

How the next day after the battle, the Englishmen discom- 
fited divers Frenchmen 

On this Saturday, when the night was come, and 
the Englishmen heard no more noise of the French- 
men, then they reputed themselves to have the vic- 
tory, and the Frenchmen to be discomfited, slain, 
and fled away. 

Then they made great fires, and lighted up 
torches and candles, because it was very dark. 
Then the King came down from the little hill where 
he stood, and all that day till then his helm came 
never upon his head. 

Then he went, with all his battalion, to his son 
the Prince, and embraced him in his arms and 
kissed him, and said, " Fair son, God give you good 
perseverance ; ye are my good son, thus ye have 
acquitted you nobly, ye are worthy to guard a 
realm." The Prince inclined himself to the earth, 
honouring the King his father. 



40 The Battle of Cressy 

This night they thanked God for their good 
adventure, and made no boast thereof: for the 
King would have that no man should be proud or 
make boast, but every man humbly to thank 
God. 

On the Sunday in the morning there was such a 
mist, that a man might not see the breadth of an 
acre of land from him. Then there departed from 
the host, by the commandment of the King and 
marshals, five hundred spears and two thousand 
archers, to see if they might see any Frenchmen 
gathered again together in any place. 

The same morning, out of Abbeville and St. 
Ricquier in Ponthieu, the common soldiers of 
Rouen and of Beauvais issued out of their towns, 
not knowing of the discomfiture of the day before : 
they met with the Englishmen weening they had 
been Frenchmen. And when the Englishmen saw 
them they set on them freshly, and there was a sore 
battle : but at last the Frenchmen fled, and kept no 
order. There were slain in the roads and in the 
hedges and bushes more than seven thousand : and 
if the day had been clear, there had never a one 
escaped. 

Afterwards another company of Frenchmen were 
met by the Englishmen — the Archbishop of Rouen 
and the Great Prior of France : who also knew 
nothing of the discomfiture the day before, for they 



The Battle of Cressy 41 

heard that the French King should have fought the 
same Sunday, and they were going to join him. 
When they met with the Englishmen there was a 
great battle, for they were a great number : but 
they could not endure against the Englishmen, they 
were nigh all slain : few scaped : the two lords 
were slain. 

This morning the Englishmen met with divers 
Frenchmen that had lost their way on the Saturday, 
and had lain all night in the fields, and wist not 
where the King was, nor the captains. They were 
all slain, as many as were met with : and it was 
shewed me, that of the common soldiers and men 
a-foot of the cities and good towns of France, there 
were slain four times as many as were slain on the 
Saturday in the great battle. 

How the next day after the Battle of Cressy, they that 
were dead were numbered by the Englishmen 

The same Sunday, as the King of England came 
from Mass, such as had been sent forth returned, and 
shewed the King what they had seen and done, and 
said, " Sir, we think surely there is now no more 
appearance of any of our enemies." 

Then the King sent to search how many were 
slain, and what they were. Sir Reginald Cobham 
and Sir Richard Stafford, with the heralds, went to 



42 The Battle of Cressy 

search the field and country : they visited all them 
that were slain, and rode all day in the fields, and 
returned again to the host as the King was going to 
supper. They made just report of that they had 
seen, and said how there were eleven great princes 
dead, fourscore lords with banners, twelve hundred 
knights, and more than thirty thousand others. 

The Englishmen still kept their field all the 
night, and on the Monday in the morning the King 
prepared to depart. The King caused the dead 
bodies of the great lords to be taken up and con- 
veyed to the Abbey of Montenay, and there buried 
in holy ground : and made a cry in the country to 
grant truce for three days, to the intent that they 
of the country might search the field of Cressy, to 
bury the dead bodies. 

Then the King went forth, and came before the 
town of Montreuil by the sea, and his marshals ran 
towards Hesdin. The next day they rode toward 
Boulogne, and came to the town of Wissant : there 
the King and the Prince lodged, and tarried there a 
day, to refresh his men : and on the Wednesday 
the King came before the strong town of Calais. 



THE SIEGE OF CALAIS 



III. THE SIEGE OF CALAIS 

How the King of England laid siege to Calais, and how 
all the poor people were put out of the town 

IN the town of Calais, there was captain a 
Knight of Burgundy called Sir John De Vienne, 
and with him was Sir Arnold d'Andreghen, Sir 
John de Surie, Sir Bardon de Bellebourne, Sir God- 
frey de la Motte, Sir Pepin de Were, and divers 
other knights and squires. 

When the King of England was come before 
Calais, he laid his siege, and ordained buildings of 
wood between the town and the river. He made 
carpenters to make houses and lodgings of great 
timber, and set the houses like streets, and covered 
them with trees and broom. So that it was like a 
little town ; and there was everything to sell, and a 
market-place to be kept every Tuesday and Satur- 
day for flesh and fish and mercery ware ; houses for 
cloth, for bread, wine, and all other things necessary, 
such as came out of England, or out of Flanders : 
there they might buy what they list. 

The Englishmen ran oftentimes into the country 
of Guisnes, and to the gates of St. Omer, and some- 

45 



46 The Siege of Calais 

times to Boulogne : they brought into their host 
great prey. 

The King would not assail the town of Calais, for 
he thought it but a lost labour: he spared his 
people and his artillery, and said how he would fam- 
ish them in the town with long siege, without the 
French King came and raised his siege perforce. 

When the Captain of Calais saw the manner and 
the order of the Englishmen, then he constrained 
all poor and mean people to issue out of the town. 
And on a Wednesday they issued out, of men, 
women, and children more than seventeen hundred, 
and as they passed through the host, they were de- 
manded why they departed. And they answered 
and said, because they had nothing to live on. 

Then the King did them that grace that he suf- 
fered them to pass through his host without danger, 
and gave them meat and drink to dinner, and every 
person twopence sterling in alms : for the which 
dinners many of them prayed for the King's pros- 
perity. 

How the French King assembled a great host to raise the 
King of England from the siege before Calais 

King Philip, who knew well how his men were 
sore constrained in Calais, commanded every man 
to be with him at the feast of Pentecost in the city 



The Siege of Calais 47 

of Amiens or thereabout : there was none durst say 
nay. 

The King kept there a great feast : thither came 
Duke Eudes of Burgundy, and the Duke of Nor- 
mandy the King's eldest son, and the Duke of 
Orleans his youngest son, the Duke of Bourbon, 
the Earl of Foix, the Lord Louis of Savoy, Sir 
John of Hainault, the Earl of Armagnac, the Earl 
of Forets, the Earl of Valentinois, and divers other 
earls, barons, and knights. When they were all at 
Amiens, they took counsel. 

The French King would have been glad that the 
passages of Flanders might have been open to him : 
for then he thought he might send part of his men 
to Gravelines, and by that way to refresh the town 
of Calais, and on that side to fight easily with the 
Englishmen. He sent great messengers into Flan- 
ders to treat for that matter : but the King of Eng- 
land had there such friends that they would never 
agree to this favour. 

Then the French King said how he would go 
thither on the side toward Burgundy. 

The King of England saw well how he could not 
get Calais but by famine : then he made a strong 
castle and a high, to close up the passage by the 
sea, and this castle was set between the town and 
the sea, and was well fortified with springals, bom- 
bards, bows and other artillery. And in this castle 



48 The Siege of Calais 

were threescore men of arms, and two hundred arch- 
ers : they kept the haven in such wise that nothing 
could come in nor out. It was thought that thereby 
those within should the sooner be famished. 

Then the French King went to the town of Arras, 
and set many men of war to the garrisons of Artois, 
and especially he sent his constable Sir Charles 
d'Espagne to St. Omer, for the Earl of . Eu and of 
Guisnes, who was Constable of France, was prisoner 
in England. Then the French King and his com- 
pany departed from Arras and went to Hesdin : his 
host, with the baggage train, took well in length a 
three leagues of that country : and there he tarried a 
day, and came the next day to Blangy. 

There he rested, to take advice what way to go 
forward : then he was counselled to go through the 
country called la Belune, and that way he took, and 
with him a two hundred thousand men, one and 
another ; and so passed by the county of Fauken- 
berg, and so came straight to the hill of Sangate, 
between Calais and Wissant. They came thither 
in goodly order, with banners displayed, and armour 
shining, that it was great beauty to behold their 
puissant array. When they of Calais saw them 
lodge, it seemed to them a new siege. 



The Siege of Calais 40 

How the King of England made the passages about Calais 
to be well kept that the French King should not 
approach to raise the siege 

Ye shall hear what the King of England did and 
caused to be done, when he saw and knew that the 
French King came with so great an host to raise 
the siege, the which had cost him so much goods, 
and pain of his body, and lost many of his men. 

He knew well how he had so constrained the 
town, that it could not long endure, for default of 
victuals : it grieved him sore then to depart. Then 
he considered well how the Frenchman could not 
approach, neither to his host nor to the town, but 
in two places ; either by the downs by the seaside, 
or else above by the highway, where there were 
m.any dykes, rocks and marshes, and but one way 
to pass, over a bridge called Newland Bridge. 

Then the King made all his navy to draw along 
by the coast of the downs, every ship well garnished 
with bombards, crossbows, archers, springals, and 
other artillery ; whereby the French host might not 
pass that way. And the King caused the Earl of 
Derby to go and keep Newland Bridge with a great 
number of men of arms, and archers, so that the 
Frenchmen could not pass no way, without they 
would have gone through the marshes, the which 
was unpossible. 



50 The Siege of Calais 

On the other side toward Cahiis there was a high 
tower, guarded by thirty archers, who kept the pas- 
sage of the downs from the Frenchmen ; and it was 
well fortified with great and double dykes. When 
the Frenchmen were now lodged on the mount of 
Sangate, the common soldiers of Tournay, who 
were a fifteen hundred, came to that tower, and 
those within shot at them, but they passed the 
dykes and came to the foot of the wall with pikes 
and hooks. There was a sore assault, and many of 
them of Tournay sore hurt ; but at last they won 
the tower, and all that were within were slain, and 
the tower beaten down. 

The French King sent his marshals to consider 
what way he might approach to fight with the Eng- 
lishmen ; so they went forth, and when they had 
considered the passages and straits, they returned 
to the King, and said how that In nowise he could 
come to the Englishmen, without he would lose his 
people. So the matter rested all that day and night. 

The next day after Mass the French King sent to 
the King of England the Lord Geoffrey of Chargny, 
the Lord Eustace of Ribeaumont, Sir Guy of Nesle, 
and the Lord of Beaujeu, and as they rode by that 
strong way, they saw well It was hard to pass that 
way. They praised much the order that the Earl 
of Derby kept there at the Bridge of Newland, by 
the which they passed ; then they rode till they 



The Siege of Calais 51 

came to the King, who was well accompanied with 
noblemen about him. 

Then they four alighted, and came to the King, 
and did their reverence to him : then the Lord 
Eustace of Ribeaumont said, " Sir, the King my 
master sendeth you word by us that he is come to 
the mount of Sangate to do battle with you, but he 
can find no way to come to you. Therefore, Sir, 
he would that ye should appoint certain of your 
Council, and he in likewise certain of his ; and they 
between them to advise a place for the battle." 

The King of England was ready advised to an- 
swer, and said : " Sirs, I have well understood that 
which ye desire of me on the behalf of mine adver- 
sary, who keepeth wrongfully from me mine heri- 
tage, wherefore I am angered. Say unto him from 
me, if ye list, that I am here, and so have been nigh 
an whole year, and all this he knew right well ; he 
might have come hither sooner if he had been will- 
ing, but he hath suffered me to abide here so long, 
the which hath been greatly to my cost and charge. 
I now could if I would, be soon Lord of Calais ; 
wherefore I am determined not to follow his device 
and ease, nor to depart from that which I am at the 
point to win, and which I have so sore desired and 
dearly bought ; wherefore if neither he nor his men 
can pass this way, let them seek some other passage, 
if they think to come hither." 



J2 * The Siege of Calais 

Then these lords departed and were conveyed 
till they were past Newland Bridge : then they 
showed the French King the King of England's 
answer. 

In the mean season, while the French King 
studied how to fight with the King of England, 
there came into his host two cardinals from Pope 
Clement, in legation as ambassadors ; who took 
great pains riding back and forward between these 
hosts, and they procured so much that there was 
granted a certain treaty of accord and a respite be- 
tween the two Kings and their men there at siege 
and in the field. 

And so there were four lords appointed on either 
side to counsel together, and to treat for a peace ; 
for the French King there was the Duke of Bur- 
gundy and the Duke of Bourbon, Sir Louis of 
Savoy and Sir John of Hainault : and for the Eng- 
lish party, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of North- 
ampton, the Lord Reginald Cobham, and the Lord 
Walter Manny ; and the two cardinals were means 
between the parties. 

These lords met three days, and put forward 
many devices, but none took effect ; and in the 
mean season the King of England always fortified 
his host and camp, and made dykes on the downs, 
that the Frenchmen should not suddenly come on 
them. 




W: 



rj^feas? ---V^^ 



*L^-f>d:j.*A J 



\V\ 



The Pope in Council sending a Legate to the 
King of France 



1 



The Siege of Calais ^^ 

These three days passed without any agreement : 
then the two cardinals returned to St. Omer ; and 
when the French King saw that he could do noth- 
ing, the next day he dislodged betimes and took 
his way to Amiens, and gave every man leave to 
depart. 

When they within Calais saw their King depart, 
they made great sorrow. Some of the Englishmen 
followed the tail of the Frenchmen, and won many 
baggage carts and carriages, horses and wine and 
other things ; and took prisoners, whom they 
broi^ght into the host before Calais. 

How the Town of Calais was given up to the King of 

England 

After that the French King was thus departed 
from Sangate they within Calais saw well how their 
succour failed them ; for the which they were in 
great sorrow. Then they entreated so much their 
captain. Sir John de Vienne, that he went to the 
walls of the town, and made a sign to speak with 
some person of the host. 

When the King heard thereof he sent thither Sir 
Walter Manny, and Lord Basset: then Sir John 
de Vienne said to them, " Sirs, ye be right valiant 
knights in deeds of arms ; and ye know well how 
the King my master hath sent me and others to 



54 The Siege of Calais 

this town, and commanded us to keep it in such 
wise that we take no blame to ourselves nor to him 
no damage ; and we have done all that lieth in our 
power. Now our succours have fliiled us and we 
be so sore strained that we have not enough to live 
withalj but that we must all die, or else go mad for 
famine, without the noble and gentle King of yours 
will take mercy on us : the which to do, we request 
you to desire him to have pity on us, and to let us 
go and depart as we be, and let him take the town 
and castle, and all the goods that be therein, of the 
which there is great abundance." 

Then Sir Walter Manny said : " Sir, we know 
somewhat of the intention of the King our master, 
for he hath shewed it unto us : know ye surely for 
truth, it is not his mind that ye, nor they within the 
town, should depart so ; for it is his will that ye all 
should put yourselves wholly into his hands to ran- 
som all such as pleaseth him, and to put to death 
such as he lists : for they of Calais have done him 
such contraries and despites, and have caused him 
to spend so much goods, and lost him so many of 
his men, that he is sore grieved against them." 

Then the Captain said : " Sir, this is too hard to 
us : here within we are a small sort of knights and 
squires who have truly serv^ed the King our master, 
as well as ye serve yours, in like case ; and we have 
endured much pain and unease; but we shall endure 



The Siege of Calais 55 

as much pain as ever knights did, rather than con- 
sent that the poorest lad in the town should have 
to bear any more evil than the greatest of us all. 
Therefore, Sir, we pray you of your humility, that 
ye will go and speak to the King of England, and 
desire him to have pity on us ; for we trust to find 
in him so much gentleness that, by the grace of 
God, his purpose shall change." 

Sir Walter Manny and Lord Basset returned to 
the King, and declared to him all that had been 
said. The King said he would have it no other- 
wise, but that they should yield them up simply to 
his pleasure. 

Then Sir Walter said : " Sir, saving your displeas- 
ure in this, ye may be in the wrong ; for ye shall give 
by this an evil ensample ; if ye send any of us 
your servants into any fortress, we will not be very 
glad to go, 'if ye put any of them in the town to 
death after they be yielded ; for in likewise they 
will deal with us, if the case fell out alike : '' the 
which words divers other lords that were present 
sustained and maintained. 

Then the King said : " Sirs, I will not be alone 
against you all : therefore. Sir Walter Manny, ye 
shall go and say to the Captain, that all the grace 
that he shall find now in me is, that they let six of 
the chief burgesses of the town come out bareheaded, 
barefooted and barelegged, and in their shirts, with 



56 The Siege of Calais 

halters about their necks, with the keys of the town 
and castle in their hands ; and let them six yield 
themselves purely to my will, and the residue I will 
take to mercy." 

Then Sir Walter returned and found Sir John de 
Vienne still on the wall, abiding for an answer ; then 
Sir Walter showed him all the grace that he could 
get of the King. 

" Well," said Sir John, " Sir, I request you tarry 
here a certain space till I go into the town, and show 
this to the commons of the town, who sent me 
hither." 

Then Sir John went into the market-place, and 
sounded the common bell ; then instantly men and 
women assembled there. Then the Captain made 
report of all that he had done, and said, " Sirs, it 
will not be otherwise ; therefore now take counsel, 
and make a short answer." 

Then all the people began to weep and to make 
such sorrow that there was not a hard heart, if they 
had seen them, but would have had great pity on 
them ; the Captain himself wept piteously. 

At last the most rich burgess of the town, called 
Eustace de St. Pierre, rose up and said openly : " Sirs 
great and small, great mischief it should be, to suffer 
to die such people as be in this town, either by 
famine or otherwise, when there is a means to save 
them. I think that he or they that might keep 



The Siege of Calais 57 

them from such mischief should have great merit 
of our Lord God : as for my part I have good trust 
in our Lord God, that if I die in the quarrel to save 
the residue, God would pardon me my sins. Where- 
fore to save them I will be the first to put my life 
in jeopardy." 

When he had thus said, every man worshipped 
him, and divers kneeled down at his feet with sore 
weeping and sore sighs. Then another honest bur- 
gess rose and said, " I will keep company with my 
gossip Eustace ; " he was called John Daire. Then 
rose up Jacques de Wissant, who was rich in goods 
and heritage ; he said also that he would hold com- 
pany with his two cousins. In like wise so did 
Peter de Wissant his brother : and then rose two 
others; they said they would do the same. 

Then they went and apparelled them as the King 
desired ; then the Captain went with them to the 
gate. There was great lamentation made of men, 
women and children at their departing ; then the 
gate was opened, and he issued out with the six 
burgesses, and closed the gate again, so that they 
were between the gate and the barriers. 

Then he said to Sir Walter Manny, " Sir, I de- 
liver here to you, as Captain of Calais, by the whole 
consent of all the people of the town these six 
burgesses ; and I swear to you truly, that they be 
and v/ere to-day most honourable, rich and most 



58 The Siege of Calais 

notable burgesses of all the town of Calais ; where- 
fore, gentle knight, I entreat you pray the King to 
have mercy on them, that they die not." 

Said Sir Walter, " I cannot say what the King 
will do, but I shall do for them the best I can." 

Then the barriers were opened, the six burgesses 
went towards the King, and the Captain entered 
again into the town. 

When Sir Walter presented these burgesses to 
the King, they kneeled down and held up their 
hands, and said : " Gentle King, behold here, we 
six, who were burgesses of Calais and great mer- 
chants, we have brought to you the keys of the 
town, and of the castle, and we submit ourselves 
clearly into vour will and pleasure, to save the 
residue of the people of Calais, who have suffered 
great pain. Sir, we beseech your grace to have pity 
on us, through your high nobleness." 

Then all the earls and barons and others that 
were there wept for pity. The King looked fiercely 
on them, for greatly he hated the people of Calais, 
for the great damages and displeasures they had 
done him on the sea before. Then he commanded 
their heads to be stricken off. Then every man 
entreated the King for mercy, but he would hear 
no man in that behalf. 

Then Sir Walter Manny said : " Ah, noble King, 
for God's sake refrain your anger : ye have the 



The Siege of Calais 59 

name of sovereign nobleness ; therefore now do not 
a thing that should blemish your renown, nor give 
cause to some to speak villany of you : every man 
will say it is a great cruelty to put to death such 
honest persons, who by their own will put them- 
selves at your mercy, to save their fellows." 

Then the King ground his teeth and turned him- 
self away from him, and commanded to send for 
the hangman, and said : " Sir Walter, hold your 
peace ; they of Calais have caused many of my men 
to be slain ; wherefore these shall die in like wise.'' 

Then the Queen, being great with child, kneeled 
down, and sore weeping said : " Ah ! gentle Sir, 
since I have passed over sea in great peril I have 
desired nothing of you ; therefore now I humbly 
entreat you, in the honour of the Son of the Virgin 
Mary, and for the love of me, that ye will take 
mercy of these six burgesses." 

The King looked on the Queen and stood still 
for a space in a study, and then said : " Ah ! dame, 
I would ye had been now in some other place : ye 
make such request to me that I cannot deny you ; 
wherefore I give them to you to do your pleasure 
with them." 

Then the Queen caused them to be brought into 
her chamber, and made the halters to be taken from 
their necks, and caused them to be new clothed, 
and gave them their dinner at their leisure. And 



6o The Siege of Calais 

then she gave each of them six nobles in money, 
and made them to be brought out of the host in 
safe guard, and set at their liberty. 

How the King of England repeopled the Town of Calais 
with Englishmen 

Thus the strong town of Calais was given up to 
King Edward of England in the year of our Lord 
God MCCCXLVII in the month of August. 

The King of England called to him Sir Walter 
Manny and his two marshals, the Earl of Warwick 
and the Earl of Stafford, and said to them, " Sirs, 
take here the keys of the town and castle of Calais ; 
go and take possession there, and put in prison all 
the knights that be there ; and all other soldiers 
that came thither simply to win their living, cause 
them to leave the town, and also all other men, 
women and children ; for I will repeople again the 
town with pure Englishmen." 

So these three lords, with a hundred men with 
them, went and took possession of Calais, and did 
put in prison Sir John de Vienne, Sir John de 
Surie, Sir John de Bellebourne, and others : then 
they made all the soldiers to bring all their armour 
into a place appointed, and lay it all on a heap in 
the town hall of Calais. Then they made all man- 
ner of people to leave the town, and kept there no 



The Siege of Calais 6i 

more persons but a priest and two other ancient 
personages, such as knew the customs, laws and 
ordinances of the town, and to mark out the heri- 
tages how they were divided. Then they prepared 
the castle to lodge the King and Queen, and pre- 
pared other houses for the King's company. Then 
the King mounted on his horse and entered into 
the town with trumpets, drums and horns. 

The King gave to Sir Walter Manny divers fair 
houses within the town, and others to the Earl of 
Stafford, to Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, and to 
other lords, to repeople again the town : the King's 
mind was, when he came back into England, to 
send out of London a thirty-six good burgesses to 
Calais to dwell there and to do so much that the 
town might be peopled with pure Englishmen ; the 
which intent the King fulfilled. Then the new 
town and wooden buildings that were made outside 
the town were pulled down, and the castle that 
stood on the haven was rashed down, and the great 
timber and stones brought into the town. Then 
the King ordained men to keep the gates, walls and 
barriers, and amended all things within the town : 
and Sir John de Vienne and his company were sent 
into England, and were half a year at London : 
then they were put to ransom. 

Methinks it was very pitiful for the burgesses 
and other men of the town of Calais, and women 



62 The Siege of Calais 

and children, when they were made to forsake their 
houses, heritages and goods, and to bear away 
nothing : and they had no restorement from the 
French King, for whose sake they lost all. The 
most part of them went to St. Omer. 

The Cardinal Guy de Bologne, who had come 
into France in legation, and was with the French 
King, his cousin, in the city of Amiens, laboured so 
much that a truce was taken between the Kings of 
England and France, to endure two years. Then 
the King of England and the Queen returned into 
England. 



THE BATTLE OF LES ESPAGNOLS- 
SUR-MER 



IV. THE BATTLE OF LES ESPAGNOLS- 
SUR-MER 

How the King of England attacked the Spanish ships on 
the sea on their way from Flanders into Spain and how 
he discomfited them 

AT this season there was much ill will between 
the King of England and the Spaniards by 
- reason of certain evil-dealing and robberies 
that the Spaniards had done on the sea against the 
Englishmen. Whereof it came that in this year the 
Spaniards, who were come into Flanders for their 
merchandise, were informed that they could not re- 
turn into their own country without they should be 
met with by the Englishmen. 

Then the Spaniards took counsel and were ad- 
vised that they should not make too great account 
thereof; and they furnished themselves right plen- 
tifully, and their ships of war and others, at Sluys, 
with all kinds of arms and of good artillery, and re- 
tained all manner of people, soldiers, archers, and 
crossbows, such as were willing to take their pay : 
and they all tarried the one for the other, and did 
their buying and merchandise as each man would. 
F 65 



66 The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 

The King of England, who held them in great 
hatred, heard how they made them so great provi- 
sion : then he said in a loud voice, " We have this 
long time borne with the Spaniards, and they have 
done us much despite, and still they come not to 
make any amends, but fortify themselves against 
us ; so that we shall do well to take them on their 
passage." 

Those that were about the King lightly agreed to 
this device, desiring that the Spaniards should be 
fought withal. Then the King made a great and 
special summons to all his gentlemen who were at 
that time in England ; and so departed from Lon- 
don and came into the County of Sussex, the which 
is by the sea between Southampton and Dover, op- 
posite to the country of Ponthieu and Dieppe : and 
there he lodged in an abbey by the sea ; and thither 
also came the Queen his wife. 

At this time and in this same place came to the 
King the gentle knight Sir Robert of Namur, who 
was newly returned from over sea : so it fortuned 
to him to be of this army, and the King of England 
rejoiced much at his coming. 

When the King heard that the time was come 
that the Spaniards should make the passage, he 
took the sea with a right fair company of knights 
and squires : there were so many great lords as he 
had never before in no voyage that he made. In 



The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 67 

this year he had made his cousin the Earl Henry 
of Derby to be Duke of Lancaster, and the Baron 
of Stafford to be the Earl of Stafford : they were 
with him in this army, with his two sons, the Prince 
of Wales and John Earl of Richmond; but the 
Earl of Richmond was still so young that he went 
not armed, but the King had him in his ship with 
him, for he loved him greatly. 

There also were the Earl of Arundel, the Earl 
of Northampton, the Earl of Hereford, the Earl of 
Suffolk, the Earl of Warwick, Sir Reginald Cob- 
ham, Sir Walter Manny, Sir Thomas Holland, Sir 
Louis Beauchamp, Sir James Audley, Sir Bartholo- 
mew Burghersh, the Lord Percy, the Lord Mow- 
bray, the Lord Neville, the Lord Clifford, the Lord 
Roos, the Lord Grafton, the Lord Berkeley, and 
many others. The King was there accompanied 
with four hundred knights: he had never so many 
great lords assembled together in any battle where 
he was, as he had there. 

The King and his people kept the sea, with their 
vessels all furnished and arrayed to abide their ene- 
mies ; for they were informed how that they must 
pass that way, without long awaiting; and so held 
themselves at anchor three days, between Dover 
and Calais. 

When the Spaniards had done their buymg and 
their merchandise, and had laden their vessels with 



68 The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 

sheets and stuffs and all manner of things that 
seemed to them good and profitable to bring back 
into their country, they saw well that they should 
be met with by the Englishmen, but for all that 
they made no account thereof. They came into 
the town of Sluys, and entered upon their vessels, 
and there they had them so heavily furnished with 
all kinds of artillery, that it was marvel to think on; 
and also with great bars of iron forged and all ready 
for throwing, and for sinking ships by casting rocks 
and stones without number. 

When they saw that they had the wind fair, they 
weighed anchor ; and they were forty great ships, 
all together, so strong and fair that it was a pleasure 
to see and to look upon them ; and they had above 
on the masts, castles and towers, furnished with 
rocks and stones for throwing, and soldiers to keep 
them. Also upon these masts were the pennons em- 
blazoned with their ensigns, the which flew in the 
wind and waved and fluttered : it was great beauty 
to see and to imagine. And meseems, if the Eng- 
lishmen had great desire to find them, they had yet 
more to be found, as it appeared, and as I shall tell 
you after. 

These Spaniards were full ten against one, with 
the soldiers that they had taken and retained for 
wages in Flanders. So they reputed and held them- 
selves strong enough to fight on the sea with the 



The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 6g 

King of England and his puissance ; and to this 
intent they came sailing, and driving before the 
wind, for the wind was fair for them, off Calais. 

The King of England, who was on the sea with 
his navy, had there ordained all his force, and said 
how he would have them deal and fight : and he 
had made Sir Robert of Namur to be master of a 
ship called La Salle du Roi, where all his lodging 
was. 

The King of England stood ever on the forepart 
of his ship, apparelled in a black jacket of velvet, 
and he wore on his head a bonnet of black cloth, 
the which became him right well. And he was then, 
as it was told me by them that were with him on 
that day, so joyous as he never was seen. And he 
made his minstrels to play before him a dance of 
Germany, the which Sir John Chandos, who was 
there present, had newly brought back ; and more- 
over to divert him he made the said knight to sing 
with his minstrels, and took great pleasure to hear : 
and at the same time he looked ever aloft, for he 
had set a watch on the tower of his ship to tell him 
when the Spaniards should come. 

And while the King was at this pastime, and all 
the knights were right gay to see him so joyous, the 
watch, who perceived the navy of the Spaniards, 
cried, " Ho ! I see a ship coming, and methinks it 
is a ship of Spain." 



70 The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 

Then the minstrels were quiet ; and again it was 
demanded of him if he saw more ; and in a little 
time after he answered and said, " Yea, I see two of 
them, and then three and then four/' And when 
he saw the great fleet, then he cried, " I see so many, 
so help me God, that I cannot count them." 

Then the King and his knew well that it was the 
Spaniards. Then the King sounded his trumpets : 
and they put themselves in array and drew together 
all their ships, to be in better order and to keep 
their place more surely, for they knew well that 
they should have battle, since the Spaniards came 
in so great a fleet. It was then late, nigh upon the 
hour of vespers or thereabout. 

Then the King made them bring wine, and drank, 
and all his knights, and then he put his helm upon 
his head, and so did all the others. 

In a little time the Spaniards approached, who 
might well have gone their way without fighting if 
they had been minded : for seeing that they were 
well furnished and in great ships, and had the wind 
with them, they needed not to have spoken with the 
Englishmen if they had not wished it : but by 
pride and presumption they deigned not to pass by 
them without speaking, and they came of set pur- 
pose and in good order to begin the battle. 

When the King of England, who was in his ship, 
saw their dealing, he addressed his ship against a 



The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 71 

Spanish ship that came right opposite, and said to 
him that steered his vessel, " Address you against 
this ship that comes hither, for I would tilt against 
her." 

The mariner, since the King would have it so, 
would never have dared to do the contrary : he 
steered against this Spanish ship, that came down 
the wind at great random. 

The King's ship was strong and well built, else 
she had been broken, for she and the Spanish ship, 
the which was a great ship and a heavy, encountered 
with so much force that it seemed a tempest falling; 
and in the rebound that they made, the tower of 
the King of England's ship struck the tower of the 
Spanish ship in such wise that the force of the blow 
broke it off where it was, high up on the mast, and 
overthrew it in the sea : and they within were 
drowned and lost. 

By this encounter the King's ship was so shaken 
that she was cracked and let in water, so that the 
knights perceived it ; but they spoke no word of it 
to the King, but were busy baling and emptying it. 

Then said the King, who saw the ship against 
which he had tilted, lying before him, " Grapple my 
ship to this one, for I wish to take her." 

Then the knights answered, " Sir, let go this one : 
ye shall have better." 

Then that ship passed on, and another great ship 



72 The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 

came. Then the King's knights grappled their 
ship to this one with hooks of iron and chains. 

There began a battle long, hard, and fierce : the 
archers began to shoot and the Spaniards to fight 
and defend themselves with right good will, and 
that not only in one place but in ten or twelve : 
and when they on one side found themselves more 
strong than their enemies, then they grappled, and 
did marvellous deeds of arms. The English had 
there no advantage : for the Spaniards were in these 
great ships, higher and greater than the English 
ships, and had thereby great advantage in shooting 
and in throwing and casting great bars of iron, with 
which they gave the Englishmen much trouble. 

The knights of the King of England, that were 
in his ship, seeing that he was in danger of being 
sunken, by reason of her leaking, as I have said 
before, made haste and persevered to win the ship 
whereto they were grappled ; and there they did 
many great feats of arms. Finally the King and 
those of his vessel bore themselves so well that this 
ship was taken, and all those in her put overboard. 

Then it was shewn to the King in what peril he 
was, and how that his ship was making water, and 
that he should betake him to that which he had 
won. The King received this counsel, and entered 
into the said Spanish ship, and his knights and all 
others that were with him, and left the other ship 



The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 73 

void : and then they were resolved to go forward 
against their enemies, who were fighting right val- 
iantly, and had crossbowmen that shot quarry-bolts 
out of strong crossbows, that troubled much the 
Englishmen. 

This battle on the sea between the Spaniards and 
the Englishmen was well and hardly fought, but it 
began late ; wherefore the Englishmen made haste 
to do their business well and to discomfit their 
enemies. Also the Spaniards, who are used to the 
sea and were in great and strong vessels, acquitted 
them loyally as far as they could. 

The young Prince of Wales and those with him 
fought in another part : and their ship was grappled 
and stayed by a great Spanish ship, and there the 
Prince and his had much ado, for their ship was 
broken and pierced in several places, where the 
water entered at great random : and for all that 
they tried to bale her, she ceased not to sink con- 
tinually ; for fear whereof the Prince's people were 
in great anguish, and fought right bitterly to win 
the Spanish ship : but they could not, for she was 
strongly kept and defended. 

Upon this peril and danger, wherein were the 
Prince and his, came the Duke of Lancaster coast- 
ing close to the Prince's ship, and saw how they 
had not the best of it, but their ship had much ado, 
for they were casting water out of her on all sides. 



74 The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 

Then he went round and stayed by the Spanish 
ship, and cried, " Derby to the rescue ! " 

There the Spaniards were in great fashion attacked 
and fought withal, and endured no long time after : 
so their ship was taken, and all put overboard ; 
there was none taken to mercy. Then the Prince 
of Wales and his people entered into her; and they 
had scant so done when their ship went down. 
Then they perceived more certainly the great peril 
they had been in. 

In other parts the barons and knights of England 
fought every man as it had been ordained and es- 
tablished, and they had need be strong and stirring, 
for they found well with what men they must deal. 
So that late in the evening the ship La Salle du Roi, 
whereof Sir Robert of Namur was captain, was 
grappled by a Spanish ship and there was a great 
combat and a hard ; and because the Spaniards 
wished to force this ship the more at their ease, and 
take her and those within her, they made great 
endeavour to draw her with them, and set their sails 
aloft, and took advantage of the course of the wind, 
and so went away in despite of the mariners of the 
Lord Robert and those with him ; for the Spanish 
ship was more great and heavy than theirs, so that 
they had good vantage for forcing her. 

Thus in going they passed before the ship of the 
King. Then they cried, " Rescue La Salle du Roil '* 



The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 75 

But they were not heard, for it was now night ; and 
if they were heard, yet they were not rescued. 

And I suppose these Spaniards would have led 
them away at their ease, but then a servant of the 
Lord Robert who was called Hankin, did there a 
great feat of arms; for with his sword naked in his 
hand he sprang, and leapt into the Spanish ship, 
and came to the mast and cut the rope that held 
the sail, so that the sail slackened and had no force; 
and with this, with a great feat of his body, he cut 
four principal ropes that governed the mast and the 
sail, insomuch that the said sail fell down upon the 
ship, and stayed the ship quite, that she could not 
go further. 

Hien Sir Robert of Namur and his, when they 
saw this advantage, they advanced and leapt into 
the Spanish ship with a good will, with their swords 
naked in their hands, and sought out and attacked 
whom they found in her; so that they were all slain 
and put overboard, and the ship was won. 

I cannot speak of all, nor say, " This one did 
well, and this one better," but while that it endured 
there was there a right hard battle and a bitter, and 
the Spaniards gave the King of Kngland and his 
people much ado. But finally the victory rested 
with the Knglishmen, and the Spaniards lost there 
fourteen ships; the others passed on and saved 
themselves. 



76 The Battle of Les Espagnols-Sur-Mer 

When they had all passed, and the King and his 
found none to fight withal, they sounded their 
trumpets for retreat, and so took the way to Eng- 
land, and took land at Rye and Winchelsea a little 
after nightfall. 

The same hour the King and his sons, the Prince 
and the Earl of Richmond, the Duke of Lancaster 
and some of the barons that were there, issued out 
of their ships, and took horse in the town, and rode 
to the manor of the Queen, the which was not two 
English leagues from there. Then the Queen was 
greatly rejoiced when she saw her lord and her sons : 
she had had that day great anguish of heart, from 
fear of the Spaniards : for on this side, from the 
hills on the coasts of England, they had well seen 
the fighting, for the day had been very clear and 
fair ; and they had told the Queen, since she would 
know, that the Spaniards had more than forty great 
ships. Therefore the Queen was well comforted, 
when she saw her lord and her sons. 

The lords and ladies passed this night in great 
revel, talking of arms and of love. 

On the morrow came to the King the greater part 
of the barons and knights that had been in the 
battle ; and the King gave them much thanks for 
their good service ; and then they took their leave, 
and returned every man to his own home. 



THE BATTLE OF POITIERS 



V. THE BATTLE OF POITIERS 

Of the Assembly that the French King made to fight with 
the Prince of Wales, who rode in Berry 

THE year of our Lord God a thousand three 
hundred and fifty-six, King John of France 
heard how the Prince of Wales with a good 
number of men of war was far entered into the 
country approaching the country of Berry. Then 
the King said and sware that he would ride and fight 
with him wheresoever he found him. 

Then the King made again a special assembly of 
all nobles, and such as held of him. His com- 
mandment was that, all manner of excuses laid 
apart, every man, his letters once seen, should on 
pain of his displeasure draw and meet with him in 
the marches of Blois and Touraine, for the intent to 
fight with the Englishmen. 

And the King, to make the more haste, departed 
from Paris and rode to Chartres, to hear the better 
of surety what the Englishmen did. There he 
rested, and daily men of war resorted thither from 
all parts : as from Auvergne, Berry, Burgundy, 
Lorraine, Hainault, Vermandois, Picardy, Brittany 

79 



8o The Battle of Poitiers 

and Normandy : and ever as they came they were 
set forward, and made their musters, and lodged in 
the country by the assignment of the marshals, the 
Lord John of Clermont and the Lord Arnold 
d'Andreghen. 

The King sent also great provision to all his 
fortresses and garrisons in Anjou, Poitou, Maine, 
and Touraine : and into all the fortresses where he 
thought the Englishmen should pass, to the intent 
to close the passages from them, and to keep them 
from victuals, that they should find no forage for 
them nor their horses. Howbeit, for all that, the 
Prince and his company, who were to the number 
of two thousand men of arms and six thousand 
archers, rode at their ease, and had victuals enough ; 
for they found the country of Auvergne right plen- 
tiful : but they would not tarry there, but went 
forth to make war on their enemies. 

They burnt and wasted the country as much as 
they might: for when they were entered into a town, 
and found it well replenished with all things, they 
tarried there a two or three days to refresh them : 
when they departed they would destroy all the resi- 
due, strike out the heads of the vessels of wine, and 
burn wheat, barley and oats, and all other things, to 
the intent that their enemies should have no aid 
thereof. And then they rode forth, and ever found 
good countries and plentiful, for in Berry, Touraine, 




Englishmen assaulting a French Town 



The Battle of Poitiers 8i 

Anjou, Poitou, and Maine, is a very plentiful country 
for men of war. 

The Englishmen rode forth in this manner till 
they came to the good city of Bourges ; and there 
they made a great skirmish at one of the gates. 
Captains within were the Lord de Cousant and the 
Lord Hutin de Memelles, who kept the city. 
There were many feats of arms done : the English- 
men departed without any more doing, and went to 
Issodun, a strong castle, the which was fiercely as- 
sailed : and thither came all the host : howbeit they 
could not win it : the gentlemen defended it val- 
iantly. 

Then they passed further and took their way to 
Vierron, a great town and a good castle, but it was 
evilly fortified and the people there not sufficient to 
make defence ; therefore it was won perforce. And 
there they found wine and other victuals great 
plenty, and tarried there three days to refresh all 
their host : and thither came tidings to the Prince 
how the French King was at Chartres with a great 
assembly of men of war, and how all the towers and 
passages above the river of Loire were closed and 
kept, that none could pass the river. 

Then the Prince was counselled to return, and to 
pass by Touraine and Poitou, and so that way to 
Bordeaux. Then the Prince took that way and re- 
turned ; when they had done their pleasure with the 



^2. The Battle of Poitiers 

town that they were in, and taken the castle, and 
slain the most part that were within, then they rode 
toward Romorantin. 

The French King had sent into the country three 
great barons to keep the frontiers there: the Lord 
of Craon, the Lord of Boucicaut, and the Hermit 
of Chaumont, who with three hundred spears rode 
into that country, coasting the Englishmen, and 
had followed them a six days together, and could 
never find advantage to set on them; for the Eng- 
lishmen rode ever so wisely that they could not 
enter on them on any side to their advantage. 

On a day the Frenchmen put themselves in an 
ambush near to Romorantin at a marvellous strait 
passage, by the which the Englishmen must needs 
pass. The same day there was departed from the 
Prince's battalion by leave of the marshals the Lord 
Bartholomew Burghersh, the Lord of Mussidant, a 
Gascon, the Lord Petiton Courton, the Lord Dela- 
warr, the Lord Basset, Sir Walter Pavely, Sir Rich- 
ard Punchardon, Sir Nesle Loring, the young Lord 
Edward Despencer, and the Lord Eustace d'Ambre- 
ticourt, with two hundred men of arms, to run before 
Romorantin. They passed foreby the Frenchmen's 
ambush, and were not ware of them : as soon as 
they were past the Frenchmen brake out, and came 
after them fiercely. 

The Englishmen, who were well forward, heard 



The Battle of Poitiers 83 

the noise of the horses coming after them, and per- 
ceived how they were their enemies : they turned 
and stood still and abode the Frenchmen, who 
came on them with great random, their spears in 
their rests, and so came running to the Englishmen, 
who stood still and suffered them to pass : and 
there was not of them more than a five or a six 
overthrown at the first meeting. 

Then the Englishmen dashed forth their horses 
after the Frenchmen. There was a fierce skirmish 
which endured long, and many knights and squires 
beaten down on both parts, and divers taken and 
rescued again : so that for a long season no man 
could tell who had the better. 

So long they fought that the battalion of the 
English marshals approached. And when the 
Frenchmen saw them coming along by a woodside, 
they fled, he that might best, and took their ways 
to Romorantin, and the Englishmen in the chase, 
not sparing their horses. There was a hard battle 
and many a man overthrown ; howbeit the one half 
of the Frenchmen entered into the castle ; the three 
lords saved themselves, and divers other knights 
and squires that were well horsed. Howbeit the 
town was taken at their first coming ; for the French- 
men all entered into the castle. 



84 The Battle of Poitiers 

How the Prince of Wales took the Castle of Romorantin 

The Prince of Wales heard how his fore-riders 
were a-fighting : then he took that way, and came 
into the town of Romorantin, wherein was much of 
his people studying how they might get the castle. 
Then the Prince commanded the Lord Sir John 
Chandos to go and speak with them of the castle. 

Then Sir John went to the castle gate, and made 
sign to speak with some person within. They that 
kept the watch there demanded what was his name 
and who did send him thither. He showed them: 
then the Lord of Boucicaut and the Hermit of Chau- 
mont came to the barriers. 

When Sir John saw them he saluted them cour- 
teously and said, " Sirs, I am sent hither to you 
from my lord the Prince, who wishes to be right 
courteous unto his enemies, as methinketh ; he 
saith that if ye will yield up this fortress to him, 
and yield yourselves prisoners, he will receive you 
to mercy, and keep you good company of arms." 

The Lord Boucicaut said, " We are not in pur- 
pose to put ourselves in that case : it were great folly, 
since we have no need so to do : we think to defend 
ourselves." 

So they departed and the Prince lodged there, 
and his men in the town without at their ease. 

The next day every man was armed and undei 



The Battle of Poitiers 85 

his banner, and began to assail the castle right 
fiercely : the archers were on the dykes, and shot 
so wholly together that none durst scant appear at 
their defences. Some swam over the dykes on 
boards and other things, with hooks and pikes in 
their hands, and mined at the walls : and they 
within cast down great stones and pots with lime. 
There was slain on the English party a squire 
called Raymond de Gederlach : he was of the com- 
pany of the Captal de Buch. This assault endured 
all the day without rest : at night the Englishmen 
drew to their lodgings, and so passed the night. 

In the morning when the sun was risen, the 
marshals of the host sounded the trumpets. Then 
all such as were ordained to give the assault were 
ready apparelled : at the which assault, the Prince 
was personally, and by reason of his presence greatly 
encouraged the Englishmen : and not far from him 
there was a squire called Bernard slain with a stone. 

Then the Prince sware that he would not depart 
thence till he had the castle, and all them within, at 
his pleasure. Then the assault was enforced on 
every part : finally they saw that by assaults they 
could not win the castle, wherefore they ordained 
engines to cast in wild fire into the base court, and 
so they did, that all the base court was afire, so 
that the fire multiplied in such wise that it took 
into the covering of a great tower covered with reed. 



86 The Battle of Poitiers 

And when they within saw that they must either 
yield to the will of the Prince, or else perish by fire, 
then all three lords came down and yielded them to 
the Prince, and so the Prince took them with him 
as his prisoners, and the castle was left void. 

Of the great host that the French King brought to the Bat- 
tle of Poitiers 

After the taking of the castle of Romorantin, and 
of them that were therein, the Prince then and his 
company rode as they did before, destroying the 
country approaching to Anjou and Touraine. 

The French King, who was at Chartres, departed 
and came to Blois, and there tarried two days : and 
then to Amboise, and the next day to Loches : and 
then he heard how that the Prince was at Touraine, 
and how that he was returning by Poitou : ever the 
Englishmen were coasted by certain expert knights 
of France who alway made report to the King of 
what the Englishmen did. 

Then the King came to la Haye in Touraine, 
and his men had passed the river of Loire, some at 
the bridge of Orleans, and some at Mehum, at Sau- 
mur, at Blois, and at Tours, and where they might. 
They were in number a twenty thousand men of 
arms beside others : there were a twenty-six dukes 
and earls and more than sixscore banners : and the 



The Battle of Poitiers 87 

four sons of the King, who were but young, the 
Duke Charles of Normandy, the Lord Louis, that 
was thenceforth Duke of Anjou, and the Lord John, 
Duke of Berry, and the Lord Philip, that was after 
Duke of Burgundy. 

The same season Pope Innocent the Sixth sent 
the Lord Bertrand, Cardinal of Perigord, and the 
Lord Nicholas, Cardinal d'Aigle, into France to 
treat for a peace between the French King and all 
his enemies. The Cardinal of Perigord went to 
Tours, and there he heard how the French King 
hasted sore to find the EngHshmen : then he rode 
to Poitiers, for he heard how both the hosts drew 
thitherward. 

The French King heard how the Prince hasted 
greatly to return, and the King feared that he should 
scape him, and so departed from la Haye in Tou- 
raine, and all his company, and rode to Chauvigny, 
where he tarried that Thursday in the town and 
without, along by the river of Vienne : and the next 
day the King passed the river at the bridge there, 
weening that the Englishmen had been before him : 
but they were not. Howbeit, they pursued after, 
and passed the bridge that day, more than threescore 
thousand horses ; and divers others passed at Chatel- 
leraut ; and ever as they passed they took their way 
to Poitiers. 

On the other side the Prince wist not truly where 



88 The Battle of Poitiers 

the Frenchmen were, but they supposed that they 
were not far off, for they could find no more forage ; 
whereby they had great default of their victual in 
their host, and some of them repented that they 
had destroyed so much as they had done before 
when they were in Berry, Anjou, and Touraine, and 
in that they had made no better provision. 

The same Friday three great lords of France, the 
Lord of Auxerre, the Lord Raoul de Coucy, and the 
Earl of Joigny, tarried all day in the town of Chau- 
vigny, and part of their companies : on the Saturday 
they passed the bridge and followed the King, who 
was then a three leagues before, and took the way 
among the bushes by a woodside to go to Poitiers. 

The same Saturday the Prince and his company 
dislodged from a little village thereby, and sent be- 
fore him certain scouts to see if they might find any 
adventure, and to hear where the Frenchmen were : 
they were in number a threescore men of arms, well 
horsed, and with them was Sir Eustace d' Ambreti- 
court, and Sir John de Guistelles ; and by adventure 
the Englishmen and Frenchmen met together by 
the foresaid woodside. 

The Frenchmen knew anon how they were their 
enemies : then in haste they did on their helmets, 
and displayed their banners, and came a great pace 
toward the Englishmen : they were in number a two 
hundred men of arms. 



The Battle of Poitiers 89 

When the Englishmen saw them, and that they were 
so great a number, then they determined to fly, and 
let the Frenchmen chase them ; for they knew well 
the Prince with his host was not far behind. Then 
they turned their horses and took the corner of the 
wood, and the Frenchmen after them, crying their 
cries, and made great noise. 

And as they chased they came on the Prince's 
battalion, before they were aware thereof them- 
selves : the Prince was tarrying there to have word 
again from them that he sent forth. The Lord 
Raoul de Coucy with his banner went so far for- 
ward that he was under the Prince's banner : there 
was a sore battle, and the knight fought valiantly. 
Howbeit he was there taken, and the Earl of 
Joigny, the Viscount de Breuse, the Lord of Chau- 
vigny, and all the others taken or slain but a few 
that scaped. 

And by the prisoners the Prince knew how the 
French King followed him in such wise that he 
could not eschew the battle : then he assembled 
together all his men and commanded that no man 
should go before the marshal's banners. 

Thus the Prince rode that Saturday, from the 
morning till it was against night, so that he came 
within two little leagues of Poitiers. 

Then the Captal de Buch, Sir Aymenon de 
Pomiers, Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, and Sir Eus- 



go The Battle of Poitiers 

tace d'Ambreticourt, all these the Prince sent forth 
to see if they might know what the Frenchmen did. 
These knights departed with two hundred men of 
arms well horsed : they rode so far that they saw 
the great battalion of the King's : they saw all the 
fields covered with men of arms. 

These Englishmen could not forbear, but set on 
the tail of the French host, and cast down many to 
the earth and took divers prisoners : so that the 
host began to stir, and tidings thereof came to the 
French King as he was entering into the city of 
Poitiers. Then he returned again, and made all 
his host do the same : so that Saturday it was very 
late before he was lodged in the field. 

The English scouts returned again to the Prince, 
and showed him all that they saw and knew, and 
said how the French host was a great number of 
people. 

"Well," said the Prince, "in the name of God 
let us now study how we shall fight them at our 
advantage." 

That night the Englishmen lodged in a strong 
place among hedges, vines and bushes, and their 
host well watched ; and so was the French host. 



The Battle of Poitiers 



91 



Of the order of the Frenchmen before the Battle of 

Poitiers 

On the Sunday, in the morning the French King, 
who had great desire to fight with the Englishmen, 
heard his Mass in his pavilion, and was confessed 
and absolved, and his four sons with him. 

After Mass there came to him the Duke of Or- 
leans, the Duke of Bourbon, the Earl of Ponthieu, 
the Lord James of Bourbon, the Duke of Athens, 
Constable of France, the Earl of Tancarville, the 
Earl of Salzburg, the Earl of Dammartin, the Earl 
of Ventadour, and divers other great barons of 
France, and of other neighbours holding of France, 
as the Lord of Clermont, Sir Arnold d'Andreghen, 
Marshal of France, the Lord of St. Venant, the 
Lord John of Landas, the Lord Eustace of Ribeau- 
mont, the Lord Fiennes, the Lord Geoffrey of 
Chargny, the Lord of Chatillon, the Lord of Sully, 
the Lord of Nesle, Sir Robert Duras, and divers 
others : all these with the King went to council. 

Then finally it was ordained that all manner of 
men should draw into the field, and every lord to 
display his banner and to set forth in the name of 
God and St. Denis. Then trumpets blew up 
through the host, and every man mounted on 
horseback and went into the field, where they saw 
the King's banner wave with the wind. There 



92 The Battle of Poitiers 

might have been seen great nobles of fair harness 
and rich armoury of banners and pennons, for there 
was all the flower of France: there was none durst 
abide at home, without he would be ashamed for 
ever. 

Then it was ordained by the advice of the Con- 
stable and marshals to be made three battalions, 
and in each sixteen thousand men of arms, all mus- 
tered and passed for men of arms : the first battal- 
ion the Duke of Orleans to govern, with thirty-six 
banners and twice as many pennons : the second the 
Duke of Normandy and his two brethren the Lord 
Louis and the Lord John : the third the King him- 
self. 

And while these battalions were setting in array, 
the King called to him Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, 
the Lord John of Landas and the Lord Richard of 
Beaujeu, and said to them, " Sirs, ride on before, to 
see the dealing of the Englishmen, and advise well 
what number they be, and by what means we may 
fight with them, either a-foot or a-horseback." 

These three knights rode forth; and the King 
was on a white courser, and said a-high to his men: 

" Sirs, among you, when ye be at Paris, at Char- 
tres, at Rouen, or at Orleans, then ye do threat the 
Englishmen and desire to be in arms out against 
them. Now ye be come thereto; now show forth 
your evil will that ye bear them, and revenge your 



The Battle of Poitiers 



93 



displeasures and damages that they have done you: 
for without doubt we shall fight with them." 

Such as heard him said, " Sir, a God's name so 
be it; that would we gladly." 

Therewith the three knights returned again to the 
King, who demanded of them tidings. Then Sir 
Eustace of Ribeaumont answered for all, and said : 
"Sir, we have seen the Englishmen; by estimation 
they be two thousand men of arms, and four thou- 
sand archers, and a fifteen hundred of others: how- 
beit they be in a strong place. And as far as 
we can imagine, they are in one battalion; howbeit 
they be wisely ordered, and along the way they 
have fortified strongly the hedges and bushes : one 
part of their archers are along by the hedge, so that 
none can go nor ride that way, but must pass by 
them. And that way must ye go, if ye purpose to 
fight with them. In this hedge there is but one 
entry, and one issue, by likelihood, that four horse- 
men may ride afront. At the end of this hedge, 
where no man can go nor ride, there be men of 
arms a-foot, and archers afore them in manner of a 
harrow; so that they will not be lightly discomfited." 

" Well," said the King, " what will ye then counsel 
us to do ? " 

Sir Eustace said : " Sir, let us all be a-foot except 
three hundred men of arms well horsed, of the best 
in your host, and most hardiest, to the intent for 



94 The Battle of Poitiers 

them somewhat to break and to open the archers: 
and then your battalions to follow on quickly a-foot, 
and so to fight with their men of arms hand to hand. 
This is the best advice that I can give you : if any 
other think any other way better, let him speak." 
The King said, " Thus shall it be done." 
Then the two marshals rode from battalion to 
battalion, and chose out a three hundred knights 
and squires of the most expert men of arms of all 
the host, every man well armed and horsed. Also 
it was ordained that the battalions of Germans should 
abide still on horseback to support the marshals 
if need were ; whereof the Earl of Salzburg, the 
Earl of Neydo, and the Earl of Nassau were cap- 
tains. 

King John of France was then armed, and twenty 
others in apparel like his ; and he did put the guid- 
ing of his eldest son to the Lord of St. Venant, the 
Lord of Landas, and the Lord Theobald of Bo- 
denay : and the Lord Arnold de CervoUe, called the 
Archpriest, was armed in the armour of the young 
Earl of Alen^on. 

How the Cardinal of Perigord treated to make agreement 
between the French King and the Prince before the 
Battle of Poitiers 

When the King's battalions were set in order, and 
every lord under his own banner among their own 



The Battle of Poitiers 95 

men, then it was commanded that every man should 
cut their spears to a five foot long, and every man 
to put off their spurs. 

Thus as they were ready to approach, the Car- 
dinal of Perigord came in great haste to the King: 
he came the same morning from Poitiers : he 
kneeled down to the King, and held up his hands, 
and desired him for God's sake a little to abstain 
from setting forward till he had spoken with him : 
then he said : " Sir, ye have here all the flower of 
your realm against a handful of Englishmen, com- 
pared with your company ; and, Sir, if ye may have 
them brought to accord with you without battle, it 
shall be more profitable and honourable to have 
them by that manner, rather than to endanger so 
noble chivalry as ye have here present: Sir, I en- 
treat you, in the name of God and humility, that I 
may ride to the Prince, and show him what danger 
ye have him in." 

The King said, " It pleaseth me well : but return 
again shortly." 

The Cardinal departed and diligently he rode to 
the Prince, who was among his men a-foot : then the 
Cardinal alighted, and came to the Prince, who re- 
ceived him courteously. 

Then the Cardinal, after his salutation made, he 
said, " Certainly, fair son, if you and your council 
consider justly the puissance of the French King, 



g6 The Battle of Poitiers 

ye will suffer me to treat to make peace between 
you, if I may." 

The Prince, who was young and lusty, said, " Sir, 
if the honour of me and of my people be saved, I 
would gladly agree to any reasonable way." 

Then the Cardinal said : " Sir, ye say well, and I 
shall bring you to accord if I can : for it should be 
great pity if so many noblemen and others as be 
here on both parties should come together by 
battle," 

Then the Cardinal rode again to the King, and 
said : " Sir, ye need not to make any great haste to 
fight with your enemies for they cannot fly from 
you though they wished it ; they be in such a 
ground : wherefore. Sir, I entreat you forbear for 
this day, till to-morrow the sunrising." 

The King was loth to agree thereto, for some of 
his council would not consent to it ; but finally the 
Cardinal showed such reasons that the King granted 
that respite: and in the same place there was pitched 
a pavilion of red silk, fresh and rich, and the King 
gave leave for that day for every man to draw to 
their lodgings, except the Constable's and marshals' 
battalions. 

That Sunday all the day the Cardinal travailed in 
riding from the one host to the other gladly, to 
bring them to agree : but the French King would 
not agree without he might have four of the princi- 



The Battle of Poitiers 97 

pallest of the Englishmen at his pleasure, and the 
Prince and all the others to yield themselves sim- 
ply : howbeit, there were many great offers made. 
The Prince offered to render into the King's hands 
all that ever he had won in that voyage, towns and 
castles, and to quit all prisoners that he or any of 
his men had taken in that season : and also to 
swear not to be armed against the French King in 
seven years after. But the King and his council 
would none thereof: the uttermost that he would 
do was that the Prince and a hundred of his knights 
should yield themselves into the King's prison : 
otherwise he would not : the which the Prince 
would in no wise agree unto. 

In the mean season that the Cardinal rode thus 
between the hosts in trust to do some good, certain 
knights, of France and of England both, rode forth 
the same Sunday, because it was truce for that day, 
to coast the hosts and to behold the dealing of their 
enemies : for it fortuned that Sir John Chandos 
rode the same day coasting the French host, and in 
like manner the Lord of Clermont, one of the French 
marshals, had ridden forth and viewed the state of 
the English host ; and as these two knights returned 
towards their hosts, they met together. Each of 
them bare the same manner of device, a blue lady 
embroidered in a sunbeam, above on their ap- 
parel. 



98 The Battle of Poitiers 

Then the Lord of Clermont said, " Chandos, how 
long have ye taken on you to bear my device ? " 

*^' Nay, ye bear mine," said Chandos, "for it is as 
well mine as yours." 

" I deny that," said Clermont, " and if it were 
not for the truce this day between us 1 should make 
it good on you incontinent, that ye have no right 
to bear my device." 

"Ay, Sir," said Chandos, "ye shall find me to- 
morrow ready to defend, and to prove by feat of 
arms that it is as well mine as yours." 

Then Clermont said, " Chandos, these be well 
the words of you Englishmen : for ye can devise 
nothing of new, but all that ye see is good and fair 
to take." 

So they departed without any more doing, and 
each of them returned to their host. 

The Cardinal of Perigord could in no wise that 
Sunday make any agreement between the parties : 
and when it was near night he returned to Poitiers. 
That night the Frenchmen took their ease : they 
had provision enough, and the Englishmen had 
great default : they could get no forage, nor they 
could not depart thence without danger of their 
enemies. 

That Sunday the Englishmen made great dykes 
and hedges about their archers, to be more stronger ; 
and on the Mondav in the morning the Prince and his 



The Battle of Poitiers 



99 



company were ready apparelled as they were before : 
and about the sunrising in like manner were the 
Frenchmen. 

The same morning betimes the Cardinal came 
again to the French host, and thought by his 
preaching to pacify the parties ; but then the French- 
men said to him, " Return whither ye will ; bring 
hither no more words of treaty nor peace : if ye 
love yourself depart shortly." 

When the Cardinal saw that he travailed in vain, 
he took leave of the King, and then he went to the 
Prince, and said, " Sir, do what ye can, there is no 
remedy but to abide the battle, for I can find no 
agreement in the French King." 

Then the Prince said, " The same is our intent 
and that of all our people : God help the right." 

So the Cardinal returned to Poitiers. In his 
company there were certain knights and squires, 
men of arms, who were more favourable to the 
French King than to the Prince ; and when they 
saw that the parties would fight, they stole from 
their master and went to the French host : and they 
made their captain the Castellan of Amposta, who 
was there with the Cardinal, who knew nothing 
thereof till he was come to Poitiers. 

The certainty about the order of the Englishmen 
was shewed to the French King : except that they 
had ordained three hundred men a-horseback and 



lOO The Battle of Poitiers 

as many archers a-horseback, to coast under cover 
of the mountain, and to strike into the battalion of 
the Duke of Normandy, who was under the moun- 
tain a-foot. This was a new ordinance they had made, 
that the French knew not of. 

The Prince was with his battalion down among 
the vines ; and they had closed in the weakest part 
with their carriages. 

Now will I name some of the principal lords and 
knights that were with the Prince : the Earl of War- 
wick, the Earl of Suffolk, the Earl of Salisbury, the 
Earl of Stafford, Sir John Chandos, the Lord Rich- 
ard Stafford, the Lord Reginald Cobham, the Lord 
Spencer, the Lord James Audley, the Lord Peter 
his brother, the Lord Berkeley, the Lord Basset, 
the Lord Warren, the Lord Delawarr, the Lord 
Mauley, the Lord Willoughby, the Lord Bartholo- 
mew Burghersh, the Lord Felton, the Lord Richard 
of Pembridge, Sir Stephen of Cossington, the Lord 
Bradeston, and other Englishmen. 

And of Gascony there was the Lord of Pomiers, 
the Lord d'Albret, the Captal de Buch, the Lord 
John of Chaumont, the Lord de I'Esparre, the Lord 
of Rosen, the Lord of Cousen, the Lord Montfer- 
rand, the Lord Landulas, the Lord Souldich de la 
Trane, and others that I cannot name. And of 
Hainaulters, Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, the Lord 
John of Guistelle, and two other strangers, the 



The Battle of Poitiers loi 

Lord Daniel Phaselle and the Lord Denis de 
Morbecque. 

All the Prince's company came not to more than 
eight thousand men, one and other, and the French- 
men were a sixty thousand fighting men, whereof 
there were more than three thousand knights. 

Of the Battle of Poitiers between the Prince of Wales and 
the French King 

When the Prince saw that he should have battle, 
and that the Cardinal was gone without making any 
peace or truce, and saw that the French King did 
set but little store by him, he said then to his men, 
" Now, Sirs, though we be but a small company in 
regard to the puissance of our enemies, let us not 
be abashed therefore : for the victory lieth not in 
the multitude of people, but where God will send 
it. If it fortune that the day be ours, we shall be 
the most honoured people of all the world ; and if 
we die in our right quarrel, I have the King my 
father, and brethren, and also ye have good friends 
and kinsmen ; these shall revenge us. Therefore, 
Sirs, for God's sake I entreat you do your duty this 
day ; for if God be pleased and St. George, this day 
ye shall see me a good knight.'* 

These words and such others that the Prince 
spake comforted all his people. 



I02 The Battle of Poitiers 

The Lord Sir John Chandos that day never 
went from the Prince, nor also the Lord James 
Audley for a great season ; but when he saw that 
they should needs fight he said to the Prince : "Sir, 
I have served always truly my lord your father and 
you also, and shall do so as long as I live. I say 
this because I made once a vow, that the first battle 
that either the King your father or any of his chil- 
dren should be at, how that I would be one of the 
first setters-on or else die in the attempt. Therefore 
I entreat your Grace, as in reward for any service 
that ever I did the King your father or you, that 
you will give me licence to depart from you and to 
set myself where I may accomplish my vow." 

The Prince accorded to his desire, and said, " Sir 
James, God give you this day that grace to be the 
best knight of all others," and so took him by the 
hand. 

Then the knight departed from the Prince, and 
went to the foremost front of the battalions, all only 
accompanied by four squires, who promised not to 
fail him. This Lord James was a right sage and a 
valiant knight, and by him was much of the host 
ordained and governed the day before. 

Thus Sir James was in the front of the battle, 
ready to fight with the battalion of the marshals of 
France. In like wise Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt 
took pains to be one of the foremost to set on. 



The Battle of Poitiers 103 

When Sir James Audley began to set forward to 
his enemies, it fortuned to Sir Eustace d'Ambreti- 
court as ye shall hear afterwards. Ye have heard 
before how the Germans in the French host were 
appointed to be still a-horseback : Sir Eustace being 
a-horseback, laid his spear in the rest and ran into 
the French battalions : and then a knight of Ger- 
many called Lord Louis of Coucibras, who bare a 
shield silver, five roses gules ; — and Sir Eustace 
bare ermine, two bars humettees of gules — when 
this German saw the Lord Eustace come from his 
company, he rode against him, and they met so 
rudely that both knights fell to the earth. 

The German was hurt in the shoulder, therefore 
he rose not so quickly as did Sir Eustace, who 
when he was up and had taken his breath, he came 
to the other knight as he lay on the ground : but 
then five other knights of Germany came on him 
all at once, and bare him to the earth. And so 
perforce there he was taken prisoner, and brought 
to the Earl of Nassau, who at the time took no 
heed of him, and I cannot say whether they sware 
him prisoner or no, but they tied him to a cart and 
there let him stand. 

Then the battle began on all parts, and the bat- 
talions of the marshals of France approached, and 
they that were appointed to break the array of the 
archers set forth ; they entered a-horseback into the 



I04 The Battle of Poitiers 

roadway, where the great hedges were on both sides 
set full of archers. 

As soon as the men of arms entered, the archers 
began to shoot on both sides, and did slay and hurt 
horses and knights, so that the horses, when they 
felt the sharp arrows, they would in nowise go for- 
ward, but drew a-back and flung and took on so 
fiercely that many of them fell on their masters, so 
that for the press they could not rise again. Inso- 
much that the marshals' battalion could never com.e 
at the Prince : certain knights and squires that were 
well horsed pressed through the archers, and thought 
to approach to the Prince ; but they could not. 

The Lord James Audley with his four squires 
was in the front of the battle, and there did marvels 
in arms, and by great prowess he came and fought 
with Sir Arnold d'Andreghen under his own ban- 
ner ; and there they fought long together, and Sir 
Arnold was there sore handled. 

The battalion of the marshals began to fall into 
disorder by reason of the shot of the archers, with 
the aid of the men of arms, who came in among 
them and slew some of them and did what they 
list. And there was Sir Arnold d'Andreghen taken 
prisoner by other men than by Sir James Audlev, 
or by his four squires, for that day he never took 
prisoner, but always fought and went on his ene- 
mies. Also on the French part the Lord John 



The Battle of Poitiers 105 

Clermont fought under his own banner as long as 
he could endure ; but there he was beaten down, 
and could not be raised up nor ransomed, but was 
slain without mercy : some said it was because of 
the words that he had the day before with Sir John 
Chandos. 

So within a short space the marshals' battalions 
were discomfited ; for they fell one upon another, 
and could not go forward : and the Frenchmen that 
were behind and could not get forward recoiled 
back, and came on the battalion of the Duke of 
Normandy, the which was great and thick, and the 
men of it were a-foot, but anon they began to open 
behind ; for when they knew that the marshals' 
battalion was discomfited, they took their horses 
and departed, he that might best. Also they saw 
a rout of Englishmen coming down a little moun- 
tain a-horseback and many archers with them, who 
brake in on the side of the Duke's battalion. 

True to say, the archers did their company that 
day great advantage ; for they shot so thick that 
the Frenchmen wist not on what side to take heed ; 
and little and little the Englishmen won ground on 
them : and when the men of arms of England saw 
that the marshals' battalion was discomfited, and 
that the Duke's battalion began to fall into disorder 
and open, they leapt then on their horses, the 
which they had ready by them. 



io6 The Battle of Poitiers 

Then they assembled together and cried, " St, 
George Guienne ! " and Sir John Chandos said to 
the Prince : " Sir, take your horse and ride forward ; 
this day is yours ; God is this day in your hands. 
Get us to the French King's battalion, for there 
lieth all the sore of the matter. I think verily, by 
his valiantness he will not fly : I trust we shall 
have him, by the grace of God and St. George, so 
he be well fought withal : and Sir, I heard you say 
that this day I should see you a good knight." 

The Prince said, " Let us go forward : ye shall 
not see me this day turn back," and said, " Ad- 
vance, banner, in the name of God and of St. 
George ! " 

The knight that bare it did his commandment : 
there was then a sore battle and a perilous, and 
many a man overthrown, and he that was once 
down could not be raised again without great suc- 
cour and aid. 

As the Prince rode and entered in among his 
enemies, he saw on his right hand in a little bush, 
lying dead, the Lord Robert of Duras, and his ban- 
ner by him, and a ten or twelve of his men about 
him. 

Then the Prince said to two of his squires and 
to three archers : " Sirs, take the body of this 
knight on a shield, and bear him to Poitiers, and 
present him from me to the Cardinal of Perigord, 



The Battle of Poitiers 107 

and say how I salute him by the token : " and this 
was done. 

The Prince was informed that the CardinaFs 
men were on the field against him ; the which was 
not pertaining to the right order of arms : for men 
of the Church, that come and go for treaty of peace, 
ought not in reason to bear armour nor to fight for 
neither of the parties : they ought to be indifferent. 
And because these men had done so, the Prince 
was displeased with the Cardinal, and therefore he 
sent unto him his nephew, the Lord Robert of 
Duras, dead. 

And the Castellan of Amposta was taken ; and 
the Prince would have had his head stricken off, 
because he was pertaining to the Cardinal : but then 
Sir John Chandos said, " Sir, let be for a season and 
attend to a greater matter, and peradventure the 
Cardinal will make such excuse that ye shall be 
content." 

Then the Prince and his company charged on 
the battalion of the Duke of Athens, Constable of 
France ; there was many a man slain and cast to 
the earth ; as the Frenchmen fought in companies 
they cried, " Montjoye St. Denis!" and the Eng- 
lishmen, " St. George Guienne ! " 

Anon the Prince and his company met with the 
battalion of Germans, whereof the Earl of Salzburg, 
the Earl of Nassau, and the Earl of Neydo were 



io8 The Battle of Poitiers 

captains, but in a short space they were put to 
flight. The archers shot so wholly together that 
none durst come within danger of them : they slew 
many a man that could not come to ransom : these 
three Earls were there slain and divers other knights 
and squires of their company. And there Sir Eus- 
tace d'Ambreticourt was rescued by his own men 
and set on horseback ; and afterwards he did that 
day many feats of arms, and took good prisoners. 

When the Duke of Normandy's battalion saw 
the Prince approach, they thought to save them- 
selves ; and so the Duke and the King's children, 
the Earl of Poitiers and the Earl of Touraine, who 
were right young, believed their governors, and so 
departed from the field, and with them more than 
eight hundred spears, that struck no stroke that 
day. Howbeit the Lord Guiscard d'Angle and the 
Lord John de Saintre, who were with the Earl of 
Poitiers, would not fly, but entered into the thick- 
est place of the battle. 

The King's three sons took the way to Chauvigny, 
and the Lord John of Landas and the Lord Theo- 
bald of Bodenay, who were set to wait on the Duke 
of Normandy, when they had brought the Duke a 
long league from the battle, then they took leave of 
the Duke, and desired the' Lord of St. Venant that he 
should not leave the Duke, but bring him into safe- 
guard ; whereby he should win more thanks of the 



The Battle of Poitiers 109 

King than by abiding himself in the field. Then 
they met also the Duke of Orleans, and a great 
company with him, who were also departed from 
the field with clear hands: but there were many 
good knights and squires, who though their mas- 
ters departed from the field, yet they had rather 
have died than to have had any reproach. 

Then the King's battalion came on the English- 
men : there was a sore fight and many a great stroke 
given and received. The King and his youngest 
son met with the battalion of the English marshals, 
the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Suffolk, and 
with them there were of the Gascons the Captal de 
Buch, the Lord of Pomiers, the Lord Aymery of 
Charree, the Lord of Languran, and the Lord de la 
Strade. To the French side there came back time 
enough the Lord John of Landas and the Lord of 
Bodenay; they alighted a-foot and went into the 
King's battalion. And a little beside them fought 
the Duke of Athens, Constable of France, and a 
little above him the Duke of Bourbon, and many 
good knights of Bourbonois and Picardy with him. 
And a little on the one side were the men of Poitou, 
the Lord de Pons, the Lord of Partenay, the Lord of 
Dampmaire, the Lord of Montabouton, the Lord of 
Surgeres, the Lord John Saintre, the Lord Guiscard 
d'Angle, the Lord d'Argenton, the Lord of Limiers, 
the Lord of Montendre and divers others; also the 



no The Battle of Poitiers 

Viscount of Rochechouart, and the Earl of Aulnoy. 
And of Burgundy the Lord James of Beaujeu, the 
Lord of Castel Vilain and others. 

In another part there was the Earl of Ventadour 
and Montpensier, the Lord James of Bourbon, the 
Lord John d'Artois, and also the Lord James his 
brother, the Lord Arnold de Cervolle, called the 
Archpriest, armed as the young Earl of Alen^on. 
And of Auvergne there was the Lord of Marcueil, 
the Lord de la Tour, the Lord of Chalenton, the Lord 
of Montagu, the Lord of Rochefort, the Lord de la 
Chaire, the Lord d'Achon. And of Limousin there 
was the Lord de Linal, the Lord of Norvel, and the 
Lord Pierre de Bussiere. And of Picardy there was 
the Lord William de Nesle, the Lord Arnold de 
Renneval, the Lord Geoffrey de St. Dizier, the 
Lord of Chauny, the Lord of Hely, the Lord of 
Monsant, the Lord of Hagnes, and divers others. 

And also in the King's battalion there was the 
Lord Douglas of Scotland, who fought for a season 
right valiantly; but when he saw the discomfiture, 
he departed and saved himself, for in no wise would 
he be taken by the Englishmen; he had rather 
been there slain. 

On the English part the Lord James Audley, 
with the aid of his four squires, fought always in the 
chief of the battle; he was sore hurt in the body 
and in the visage; but as long as his breath served 




CO 

o 
o 

0) 

H 



The Battle of Poitiers iii 

him he fought. At last at the end of the battle his 
four squires took and brought him out of the field, 
and laid him under a hedge-side for to refresh him: 
and they unarmed him, and bound up his wounds 
as well as they could. 

On the French side King John was that day a 
full right good knight ; if the fourth part of his 
men had done their duty as well as he did, the day 
had been his, by all likelihood. Howbeit they 
were all slain and taken that were there with the 
King, except a few that saved themselves. 

There were slain the Duke Peter of Bourbon, 
the Lord Guiscard of Beaujeu, the Lord of Landas, 
the Duke of Athens, Constable of France, the 
Bishop of Chalons in Champagne, the Lord Will- 
iam de Nesle, the Lord Eustace de Ribeaumont, the 
Lord de la Tour, the Lord William of Montagu, 
Sir Guinenton of Chablis, Sir Baudrin de la Housse, 
and many others, as they fought by companies : 
and there were taken prisoners the Lord of Bodenay, 
the Lord of Pompadour, and the Archpriest, sore 
hurt, the Earl of Vandos, the Earl of Mons, the 
Earl of Genville, the Earl of Vendome, Sir Louis 
de Melval, the Lord Pierre de Bussiere, and the 
Lord of Senerach: there were at that brunt slain 
and taken more than two hundred knights. 



112 The Battle of Poitiers 

Of two Frenchmen that fled from the Battle of Poitiers 
and two Englishmen that followed them 

Among the battles, encounterings, chases and 
pursuits that were made that day in the field, it for- 
tuned so to Sir Edward Roncy that he departed 
from the field ; because he saw the field was lost 
without recovery, he determined not to abide the 
danger of the Englishmen. Therefore he fled all 
alone, and was gone out of the field a league, and 
an English knight pursued him, and ever cried to 
him, and said, " Return again. Sir Knight ; it is a 
shame to fly away thus." 

Then the knight turned, and the English knight 
thought to have stricken him with his spear in the 
shield ; but he failed, for Sir Edward swerved aside 
from the stroke : but he missed not the English 
knight, for he struck him such a stroke on the helm 
with his sword that he was stunned, and fell from 
his horse to the earth, and lay still. 

Then Sir Edward alighted and came to him 
before he could rise, and said, " Yield you, rescue 
or no rescue, or else I shall slay you." The Eng- 
lishman yielded, and went with him, and afterwards 
was ransomed. 

Now it fortuned that another squire of Picardy, 
called John de Helennes, was fled from the battle, 
and met with his page, who delivered to him a new 
fresh horse, whereon he rode away alone. 



The Battle of Poitiers iij 

The same season there was in the field the Lord 
Berkeley of England, a young lusty knight, who 
the same day had reared his banner for the first 
time : and he all alone pursued the said John de 
Helennes. And when he had followed him the 
space of a league the said John turned again, and 
laid his sword in the rest instead of a spear, and so 
came running toward the Lord Berkeley, who lifted 
up his sword to have stricken the squire ; but he, 
when he saw the stroke come, turned from it, so 
that the Englishman lost his stroke, and John 
struck him, as he passed, on the arm, so that the 
Lord Berkeley's sword fell into the field. 

When he saw his sword down he alighted sud- 
denly off his horse, and came to the place where his 
sword lay ; and as he stooped down to take up his 
sword, the French squire did thrust his sword at 
him, and by hap struck him through both the 
thighs, so that the knight fell to the earth, and 
could not help himself And John alighted off his 
horse, and took the knight's sword that lay on the 
ground, and came to him and demanded if he would 
yield him or not. 

The knight then demanded his name. 

" Sir," said he, " I am called John de Helennes, 
but what is your name ? " 

" Certainly," said the knight, " my name is 
Thomas, and I am Lord of Berkeley, a fair 



114 The Battle of Poitiers 

castle on the river of Severn, in the Marches of 
Wales." 

" Well, Sir," said the squire, " then ye shall be 
my prisoner, and I shall bring you into safeguard, 
and I shall see that you shall be healed of your 
hurt." 

" Well," said the knight, " 1 am content to be 
your prisoner : for ye have by law of arms won me." 

Then he sware to be his prisoner, rescue or no 
rescue. Then the squire drew forth the sword out 
of the knight's thighs, and the wound was open : 
then he wrapped and bound the wound, and set him 
on his horse, and so brought him fair and easily to 
Chatelleraut ; and there tarried more than fifteen 
days for his sake, and did get him remedy for his hurt. 

And when he was somewhat amended, then he 
got him a litter, and so brought him at his ease to 
his house in Picardy : there he was more than a 
year, till he was perfectly whole : and when he de- 
parted he paid for his ransom six thousand nobles. 
And so this squire was made a knight, by reason 
of the profit that he had of the Lord Berkeley. 

How King John was taken prisoner at the Battle of 

Poitiers 

Oftentimes the adventures of love and of war are 
more fortunate and marvellous than any man can 



The Battle of Poitiers " 115 

think or wish : truly this battle, the which was near 
to Poitiers, in the fields of Beaumont and Mau- 
pertuis, was right great and perilous, and many deeds 
of arms were there done, the which came not all to 
knowledge. 

The fighters on both parties endured much pain : 
King John with his own hands did that day marvels 
in arms ; he had an axe in his hands wherewith he 
defended himself, and fought in the breaking of 
the press. Near to the King there was taken the 
Earl of Tancarville, Sir James of Bourbon, Earl of 
Ponthieu, and the Lord John d'Artois, Earl of Eu : 
and a little above that, under the banner of the 
Captal de Buch, was taken Sir Charles d'Artois 
and divers other knights and squires. 

The chase endured to the gates of Poitiers : there 
were many slain and beaten down, horse and man ; 
for they of Poitiers closed their gates and would 
suffer none to enter : wherefore in the street before 
the gate was horrible murder, men hurt and beaten 
down. The Frenchmen yielded themselves as far 
off as they might know an Englishman ; there were 
divers English archers that had four, five or six 
prisoners. 

The Lord of Pons, a great baron of Poitou, was 
there slain, and many other knights and squires. 
And there also was taken the Earl of Rochechouart, 
the Lord of Dannaumont, the Lord of Partenay : 



ii6 • The Battle of Poitiers 

and of Saintonge the Lord of Montendre and the 
Lord John of Saintre ; but he was so sore hurt that 
he had never health after : he was reputed for one 
of the best knights in France. 

And there was left for dead among other dead 
men the Lord Richard d' Angle, who fought that 
day by the King right valiantly ; and so did the 
Lord of Chargny, on whom was great press because 
he bare the sovereign banner of the King : his own 
banner was also in the field, the which was of 
gules, three scutcheons silver. 

So many Englishmen and Gascons came to that 
part, that perforce they broke through the King's 
battalion ; so that the Frenchmen were so mingled 
among their enemies, that sometimes there were five 
men upon one gentleman : there was taken the Lord 
of Pompadour and the Lord Bartholomew de Brunes; 
and there was slain Sir Geofirey de Chargny, with 
the King's banner in his hands : also the Lord Regi- 
nald Cobham slew the Earl of Dammartin. 

Then there was a great press to take the King, 
and such as knew him cried, " Sir, yield you, or else 
ye are but dead." 

There was a knight of St. Omer, retained in 
wages with the king of England, called Sir Denis de 
Morbecque, who had served the Englishmen for 
five years before, because in his youth he had 
been banished the realm of France for a murder that 



The Battle of Poitiers iiy 

he did at St. Omer. It happened so well for him, 
that he was next to the King, when they were about 
to take him ; and he stepped forward into the press, 
and by strength of his body and arms he came to 
the French King, and said in good French, " Sir, 
yield you." 

The King beheld the knight, and said: "To whom 
shall I yield me ? Where is my cousin the Prince 
of Wales; if I might see him, 1 would speak with 
him." 

Sir Denis answered and said, " Sir, he is not here ; 
but yield you to me and I shall bring you to him." 

" Who be you ^ " said the King. 

" Sir," said he, " I am Denis de Morbecque, a 
knight of Artois, but I serve the King of England 
because I am banished the realm of France, and I 
have forfeited all that I had there." 

Then the King gave him his right gauntlet, say- 
ing, " I yield me to you." 

There was a great press about the King ; for every 
man was eager to say, " I have taken him " : so 
that the King could not go forward, with his young 
son the Tord Philip with him, because of the press. 

The Prince of Wales, who was courageous and 
cruel as a lion, took that day great pleasure to 
fight and to chase his enemies. Sir John Chandos, 
who was with him, all that day never left him, nor 
never took heed of taking any prisoner : then at the 



Ii8 The Battle of Poitiers 

end of the battle he said to the Prince : " Sir, it were 
good that you rested here, and set your banner 
a-high in this bush, that your people may draw 
hither : for they in front are spreading abroad, nor 
can I see no more banners nor pennons of the 
French party : wherefore. Sir, rest and refresh you, 
for ye be sore chafed." 

Then the Prince's banner was set up a-high on a 
bush; and trumpets and clarions began to sound. 
Then the Prince did off his helmet ; and the knights 
for his body and they of his chamber were ready 
about him, and a red pavilion was pitched : and then 
drink was brought forth to the Prince, and for such 
lords as were about him ; the which still increased 
in number, for as they came from the chase, they 
tarried, and their prisoners with them. And when 
the two marshals were come, to the Prince, he de- 
manded of them if they knew any tidings of the 
French King. 

They answered and said, "Sir, we hear none of 
certainty ; but we think verily he is either dead or 
taken ; for he is not gone out of the battalions." 

Then the Prince said to the Earl of Warwick 
and to Sir Reginald Cobham, " Sirg, I desire you 
go forth, and see what ye can know, that at your 
return ye may shew me the truth." 

These two lords took their horses, and departed 
from the Prince, and rode up a little hill to look 



The Battle of Poitiers 119 

about them : then they perceived a flock of men of 
arms coming along together right wearily. There 
was the French King, afoot, in great peril, for 
Englishmen and Gascons were his masters ; they 
had taken him from Sir Denis de Morbecque per- 
force, and such as were most of force said, " 1 have 
taken him." " Nay," said another, " I have taken 
him;" so they strove, which should have him. 

Then the French King, to escape that peril, 
said : " Sirs, strive not, lead me courteously, and 
my son, to my cousin the Prince, and strive not 
about my taking ; for I am so great a lord as to 
make you all rich." 

The King's words somewhat appeased them : 
howbeit ever as they went they made riot, and 
brawled for the taking of the King. 

When the two foresaid lords saw and heard that 
noise and strife among them, they came to them and 
said, " Sirs, what is the matter that ye strive for ? " 

" Sirs," said one of them, " it is for the French 
King, who is here taken prisoner ; and there be 
more than ten knights and squires that claim the 
taking of him and his son." 

Then the two lords entered into the press, and 
caused every man to draw aback, and commanded 
them in the Prince's name on pain of their heads to 
make no more noise, nor to approach the King no 
nearer, without they were commanded. Then every 



I20 The Battle of Poitiers 

man gave room to the lords ; and they aUghted, and 
did their reverence to the King : and so brought 
him and his son in peace and rest to the Prince of 
Wales. 



Of the gift that the Prince gave to the Lord James Audley 
after the Battle of Poitiers. 

As soon as the Earl of Warwick and Sir Reginald 
Cobham were departed from the Prince, as ye have 
heard before, then the Prince demanded of the 
knights that were about him for the Lord James 
Audley, if any knew anything of him. 

Some knights that were there answered and said, 
" Sir, he is sore hurt, and lieth in a litter here 
beside." 

"By my faith," said the Prince, "of his hurts I 
am right sorry; go and know if he may be brought 
hither, or else I will go and see him there as he is." 

Then two knights came to the Lord James Aud- 
ley and said, "Sir, the Prince desireth greatly to 
see you : either ye must go to him, or else he will 
come to you." 

"Ah, Sir," said the knight, "I thank the Prince, 
when he thinketh on so poor a knight as I am." 

Then he called eight of his servants, and caused 
them to bear him in his litter to the place where 
the Prince was. 



The Battle of Poitiers 121 

Then the Prince took him in his arms and kissed 
him, and made him great cheer, and said : " Sir 
James, I ought greatly to honour you ; for by your 
valiance ye have this day achieved the grace and 
renown of us all, and ye are reputed for the most 
valiant of all others." 

" Ah, Sir," said the knight, " ye say as it pleaseth 
you : I would it were so ; and if I have this day 
anything advanced myself to serve you, and to ac- 
complish the vow that I made, it ought not to be 
reputed to me for any prowess." 

" Sir James," said the Prince, " I, and all ours, take 
you in this day's work for the best doer in arms : and 
to the intent to furnish you the better to pursue 
your wars, I retain you for ever to be my knight, with 
Rvc hundred marks of yearly revenue, the which I 
shall assign you on mine heritage in England." 

" Sir," said the knight, " God grant me to de- 
serve the great goodness that ye shew me." 

And so he took his leave of the Prince, for he 
was right feeble : and so his servants brought him 
to his lodging : and as soon as he was gone, the 
Earl of Warwick and Sir Reginald Cobham re- 
turned to the Prince, and presented to him the 
French King. The Prince made lowly reverence 
to the King, and caused wine and spices to be 
brought forth, and himself served the King, in sign 
of great love. 



122 The Battle of Poitiers 

How the EngHshmen won greatly at the Battle of Poitiers 

Thus this battle was lost, as ye have heard ; the 
which was in the fields of Maupertuis a two leagues 
from Poitiers, the twenty-second day of September 
the year of our Lord 1356. It began in the morn- 
ing and ended at noon ; but then all the English- 
men were not returned from the chase : therefore 
the Prince's banner stood on a bush, to draw all his 
men together ; but it was night before all came from 
the chase. 

And, as it was reported, there was slain all the 
flower of France ; and there was taken with the 
King and the Lord Philip his son, a seventeen earls 
besides barons, knights and squires; and slain a five 
or six thousand of one and other. 

When every man was come from the chase, they 
had twice as many prisoners as they were in number 
in all : then it was counselled among them, because 
of the great cost and difficulty to keep so many, that 
they should put many of them to ransom immedi- 
ately in the field. And so they did : and the pris- 
oners found the Englishmen and Gascons right 
courteous : there were many that day put to ran- 
som and let go, all only on their promise of faith 
and truth to return again between that and Christ- 
mas to Bordeaux, with their ransoms. 

Then that night they lay in the field, beside 



The Battle of Poitiers 123 

where the battle had been : some unarmed them, 
but not all, and unarmed all their prisoners ; and 
every man made good cheer to his prisoner, for 
that day, whosoever took any prisoner, he was clear 
his, and he might quit or ransom him at his 
pleasure. 

All such as were there with the Prince were all 
made rich with honour and goods, as well by ran- 
soming of prisoners as by winning of gold, silver, 
plate, jewels, that were there found. There was no 
man that did set any store by rich armour, whereof 
there was plenty, for the Frenchmen came thither 
richly beseen, weening to have had the fortune of 
the dav for them. 



How the Lord James Audley gave to his four squires the 
five hundred marks of revenue that the Prince had given 
him 

When Sir James Audley was brought to his 
lodging, then he sent for Sir Peter Audley his 
brother, and for the Lord Bartholomew Burghersh, 
Sir Stephen Cossington, the Lord Willoughby, and 
the Lord Ferrers. All these were of his lineage : 
and then he called before them his four squires, 
that had served him that day well and truly. 

Then he said to the said lords : " Sirs, it hath 
pleased my lord the Prince to give me five hun- 



124 The Battle of Poitiers 

dred marks of revenue by year in heritage ; for the 
which gift I have done him but small service with 
my body. Sirs, behold here these four squires, 
who have always served me truly, and specially 
this day ; that honour that I have is by their 
•valiantness : wherefore I will reward them. I give 
and assign into their hands the gift that my lord 
the Prince hath given me, of five hundred marks 
of yearly revenue, to them and to their heirs for 
ever, in like manner as it was given me : I clearly 
disinherit me thereof and inherit them, without any 
reservation or condition." 

The lords and others that were there every man 
beheld other, and said among themselves, " It 
Cometh of a great nobleness to give this gift." 
They answered him with one voice, " Sir, be it as 
God will : we shall bear witness in this behalf 
wheresoever we be come." 

Then they departed from him, and some of them 
went to the Prince, who the same night would 
make a supper to the French King and to the 
other prisoners : for they had there enough to do 
it withal, of that which the Frenchmen brought 
with them : but the Englishmen wanted victual 
before, for some, in three days before, had had no 
bread. 



The Battle of Poitiers . 125 

How the Prince made a supper to the French King the 
same day of the battle 

The same day of the battle, at night, the Prince 
made a supper in his lodging to the French King, 
and to the most part of the great lords that were 
prisoners. The Prince made the King and his son, 
the Lord James of Bourbon, the Lord John d'Ar- 
tois, the Earl of Tancarville, the Earl d'Estampes, 
the Earl of Dammartin, the Earl of Genville, and 
the Lord of Partenay, to sit all at one board ; and 
other lords, knights, and squires at other tables. 
And always the Prince served before the King, as 
humbly as he could, and would not sit at the King's 
board, for any desire that the King could make ; 
but he said he was not sufficient to sit at the table 
with so great a prince as the King was : but he said 
to the King : " Sir, for God's sake make not evil 
nor heavy cheer, though God this day did not con- 
sent to follow your will : for. Sir, surely the King 
my father shall bear you as much honour and 
friendship as he may do, and shall accord with you 
so reasonably, that ye shall' ever be friends together 
after. And, Sir, methinks ye ought to rejoice, 
though the fortune of the day be not as ye would 
have had it : for this day ye have won the high 
renown of prowess, and have this day surpassed in 
valiantness all others of your party. Sir, I say not 



126 The Battle of Poitiers 

this to mock you ; for all that be on our side, that 
saw every man's deeds, are plainly agreed by true 
sentence to give you the prize and chaplet." 

Therewith the Frenchmen began to murmur, and 
said among themselves how the Prince had spoken 
nobly, and that by all estimation he should prove a 
noble man, if God send him life and to persevere in 
such good fortune. 

How the Prince returned to Bordeaux after the Battle of 

Poitiers 

When supper was done every man went to his 
lodging, with their prisoners. The same night they 
put many to ransom, and believed them on their 
faith and troth, and ransomed them but easily : for 
they said they would set no man's ransom so high 
but that he might pay at his ease, and maintain still 
his degree. 

The next day, when they had heard Mass, and 
taken some repast, and everything was trussed and 
ready, then they took their horses and rode towards 
Poitiers. 

The same night there was come to Poitiers the 
Lord of Roye, with a hundred spears : he was not 
at the battle, but he met the Duke of Normandy 
near to Chauvignv, and the Duke sent him to 
Poitiers to keep the town till they heard other tid- 



The Battle of Poitiers 127 

ings. When the Lord of Roye knew that the 
Englishmen were so near coming to the city, he 
caused every man to be armed, and every man to 
go to his defence to the walls, towers and gates : 
and the Englishmen passed by without any ap- 
proaching, for they were so laded with gold, silver 
and prisoners that in their returning they assaulted 
no fortress. 

They thought it a great deed if they might bring 
the French King with their other prisoners and 
riches that they had won, in safeguard to Bordeaux : 
they rode but small journeys because of their pris- 
oners and great carriages that they had ; they rode 
in a day no more than four or five leagues, and 
encamped ever betimes, and rode close together in 
good array ; saving the marshals' battalions, who 
rode ever before with five hundred men of arms, to 
open the passages where the Prince should pass. 
But they found no encounterers, for all the country 
was so afraid that every man drew to the fortresses. 

As the Prince rode, it was shewed him how the 
Lord James Audley had given to his four squires 
the gift of the five hundred marks that he had 
given unto him. Then the Prince sent for him ; 
and he was brought in his litter to the Prince, who 
received him courteously and said, " Sir James, we 
have knowledge that the revenues that we gave you, 
as soon as ye came to your lodging, ye gave the 



128 The Battle of Poitiers 

same to four squires : we would know why ye did 
so, and whether the gift was agreeable to you or 
not." 

" Sir," said the knight, " it is of truth I have 
given it to them, and I shall shew you why I did 
so : these four squires, that be here present, have 
for a long season served me well and truly in many 
great businesses ; and, Sir, at this last battle they 
served me in such wise, that if they had never done 
anything else, I was bound to reward them ; and 
before the same day they had never nothing from 
me in reward. Sir, I am but a man alone ; but by 
the aid and support of them, I took on me to ac- 
complish my vow made long before ; I had been 
dead in the battle if they had not been. Where- 
fore, Sir, when I considered the love that they bare 
unto me, I had not been courteous if I had not 
wished to reward them. I thank God I have had, 
and shall have, enough, as long as I live ; I shall 
never be abashed for lack of goods. Sir, if 1 have 
done this against your pleasure, I beg you to par- 
don me ; for. Sir, both I and my squires shall serve 
you as well as ever we did." 

Then the Prince said, " Sir James, for anything 
that ye have done I cannot blame you, but can give 
you good thanks therefor ; and for the valiantness 
of these squires, whom ye praise so much, I accord 
to them your gift ; and I will render again to you 



The Battle of Poitiers 129 

six hundred marks in hke manner as ye had the 
other." 

Thus the Prince and his company did so much 
that they passed through Poitou and Saintonge 
without damage, and came to BJaye, and there 
passed the river of Garonne, and arrived in the 
good city of Bordeaux. 

It cannot be recorded, the great feast and cheer 
that they of the city, with the clergy, made to the 
Prince, and how honourably they were there re- 
ceived. The Prince brought the French King into 
the abbey of St. Andrew, and there they lodged 
both, the King in one part and the Prince in the 
other. 

The Prince bought from the lords, knights and 
squires of Gascony, the most part of the earls of 
the realm of France, such as were prisoners, and 
paid ready money for them. There were divers 
questions and claims made between the knights and 
squires of Gascony, for taking the French King. 
Howbeit Sir Denis de Morbecque, by right of arms 
and by true tokens that he shewed, claimed him for 
his prisoner. 

Another squire of Gascony, called Bernard de 
Trouttes, said how he himself had right to him : 
there was much ado, and many words before the 
Prince and other lords that were there ; and because 
these two challenged each other to fight in that 



130 The Battle of Poitiers 

quarrel, the Prince caused the matter to rest till 
they came into England, and that no declaration 
should be made but afore the King of England his 
father. 

But because the French King himself aided to 
sustain the challenge of Sir Denis de Morbecque, 
for he inclined more to him than to any other, the 
Prince therefore privily caused to be delivered to 
the said Sir Denis two thousand nobles, to main- 
tain withal his estate. 

Anon, after the Prince came to Bordeaux, the 
Cardinal of Perigord came thither, who was sent 
from the Pope in legation, as it was said. He was 
there more than fifteen days before the Prince 
would speak v/ith him, because of the Castellan of 
Amposta and his men, who were against him in the 
Battle of Poitiers. The Prince believed that the 
Cardinal sent them thither : but the Cardinal did 
so much by the means of the Lord of Chaumont, 
the Lord of Montferrant, and the Captal de Buch, 
who were his cousins, and they shewed so good 
reasons to the Prince that he was content to hear 
him speak. And when he was before the Prince 
he excused himself so sagely, that the Prince and 
his council held him excused; and so he fell again 
into the Prince's love, and redeemed out his men 
by reasonable ransoms ; and the Castellan was set 
to his ransom of ten thousand francs, the which he 



The Battle of Poitiers 13 1 

paid after. Then the Cardinal began to treat for 
the dehverance of the French King ; but I pass it 
briefly, because nothing was done. 

Thus the Prince, the Gascons and EngHshmen 
tarried still at Bordeaux till it was Lent, in great 
mirth and revel ; and spent foolishly the gold and 
silver that they had won. 

In England also there was great joy when they 
heard tidings of the Battle of Poitiers, of the dis- 
comfiting of the Frenchmen, and taking of the 
King ; great solemnities were made in all churches, 
and great fires and wakes throughout all England. 
The knights and squires, such as were come home 
from that day's work, were much made of, and 
praised more than other. 

How the Prince conveyed the French King from - 
Bordeaux into England 

The same winter the Prince of Wales, and such 
of England as were with him at Bordeaux, ordained 
for ships to convey the French King and his son, 
and all other prisoners, into England. And when 
the time of his departure approached then he com- 
manded the Lord d'Albret, the Lord of Mussidant, 
the Lord de TEsparre, the Lord of Pomiers, and 
the Lord of Rosen, to keep the country there till 
his return again. 



i^l The Battle of Poitiers 

Then he took the sea, and certain lords of Gas- 
cony with him : the French King was in a vessel 
by himself, to be the more at his ease, accompanied 
with two hundred men of arms and two thousand 
archers : for it was shewed the Prince that the 
Three Estates, by whom the realm of France was 
governed, had laid in Normandy and Crotoy two 
great armies, to the intent to meet with him and to 
get the French King out of his hands, if they 
might : but there were no such that appeared. 

And yet they were on the sea eleven days ; and 
on the twelfth day they arrived at Sandwich : then 
they issued out of their ships, and lay there all that 
night, and tarried there two days to refresh them : 
and on the third day they rode to Canterbury. 

When the King of England knew of their com- 
ing, he commanded them of London to prepare 
them and their city to receive such a man as the 
French King was. Then they of London arrayed 
themselves by companies, and the chief Masters in 
clothing different from the others. 

At St. Thomas of Canterbury the French King 
and the Prince made their offerings, and there tar- 
ried a day, and then rode to Rochester, and tarried 
there that day, and the next day to Dartford, and 
the fourth day to London, where they were honour- 
ably received : and so they were in every good 
town as they passed. 



The Battle of Poitiers 133 

The French King rode through London on a 
white courser well apparelled, and the Prince on a 
little black hobby by him. Thus he was conveyed 
along the city, till he came to the Savoy, the which 
house pertained to the heritage of the Duke of 
Lancaster: there the French King kept his house a 
long season, and thither came to see him the King 
and the Queen oftentimes, and made him great 
feast and cheer. 

Anon after, the French King was removed from 
the Savoy to the Castle of Windsor, and all his 
household ; and went a-hunting and a-hawking 
thereabout at his pleasure, and the lord Philip his 
son with him ; and all the other prisoners abode 
still at London, and went to see the King at their 
pleasure, and were received all only on their faith. 



THE JOURNEY OF SIR JOHN 
FROISSART 



VI. THE JOURNEY OF SIR JOHN 
FROISSART 

How Sir John Froissart, Author of this Chronicle, departed 
out of France and went to the Earl of Foix, and the 
manner of his voyage in the company of a knight of 
Foix 

IT Is long now since I made any mention of the 
businesses of far countries, for the businesses 
nearer home have been so fresh that I left all 
other matters to write thereof: howbeit all this 
season, valiant men desiring to advance themselves 
in the realm of Castile and Portugal, in Gascony, in 
Rouergue, in Quercy, in Limousin, and in Bigorre, 
every day they imagined by what subtlety they could 
get one from another, by deeds of arms or by steal- 
ing, towns, castles and fortresses. 

And therefore I, John Froissart, who have taken 
on me to chronicle this present history, at the re- 
quest of the high-renowned Prince Sir Guy of 
Chatillon, Earl of Blois, Lord of Avesnes, Beauvais, 
Estonhon, and of La Geude, my sovereign master 
and good lord, considering in myself how there was 

137 



138 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

no great deeds of arms Hkely toward in the parts of 
Picardy or Flanders, seeing the peace was there 
made, and it greatly annoyed me to be idle, for I 
knew well that after my death this work and high 
history should have its course, wherein divers noble 
men should have great pleasure and delight ; and as 
yet, I thank God, I have understanding and re- 
membrance of all things past, and my wit quick and 
sharp enough to conceive all things shewed unto 
me, touching my principal matter, and my body as 
yet able to endure, and to suffer pain — all things 
considered, I thought I would not cease to pursue 
my said first purpose. 

And to the intent to know the truth of deeds 
done in far countries, 1 found occasion to go to the 
high and mighty Prince Gaston, Earl of Foix and 
of Beam : for I knew well, if I might have that grace 
to come into his house, and to be there at leisure, 
I could not be so well informed to my purpose in 
none other place of the world ; for thither resorted 
all manner of knights and strange squires, for the 
great nobleness of the said Earl. 

And as I imagined, so I did, and shewed to my 
redoubted lord, the Earl of Blois, mine intent ; and 
he gave me letters of recommendation to the Earl of 
Foix. And so long I rode without peril or damage, 
that I came to his house called Orthes in the country 
of Beam, on St. Catherine's Day, the year of grace 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 139 

one thousand three hundred fourscore and eight : 
and the said Earl as soon as he saw me he made me 
good cheer, and smiHng, said how he knew me, and 
yet he never saw me before, but he had often heard 
speaking of me. 

And so he retained me in his house, to my great 
ease, with the help of the letters of credence that I 
brought unto him, so that I might tarry there at my 
pleasure. And there I was informed of the business 
of the realms of Castile, Portugal, Navarre, and 
Aragon ; yea, and of the realm of England, and the 
country of Bourbonnais and Gascony : and the Earl 
himself, if I did demand anything of him, he did 
shew me all that he knew, saying to me how the 
history that I had begun should hereafter be more 
praised than any other : and the reason, he said, 
why, was this : how that in fifty years past there had 
been done more marvellous deeds of arms in the 
world, than in three hundred years before that. 

Thus was I in the court of the Earl of Foix well 
cherished and at my pleasure : it was the thing that 
I most desired, to know news as touching my 
matter ; and I had at my will lords, knights and 
squires, ever to inform me, and also the gentle Earl 
himself 

I shall now declare in fair language all that I was 
informed of, to increase thereby my matter, and to 
give ensample to them that list to advance them- 



140 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

selves. Here before I have recounted great deeds 
of arms, taking and assaulting towns and castles, and 
battles and hard encounterings ; and yet hereafter 
ye shall hear of many more, of the which, by the 
grace of God, I shall make just narration. 

In the season that I enterprised to go see the Earl 
of Foix, and to see the diversities of the countries, 
where I had never been before, when I departed 
from Carcassonne, I left the way to Toulouse, and 
went to Monteroral, and so to Tonges, then to Belle, 
and then to the first town of the Earl of Foix, and 
then to Maisieres, and so to the castle of Sauredun, 
and then I came to the good city of Pamiers, per- 
taining to the Earl of Foix, and there I tarried, 
abiding for some company going into the country 
'of Beam, where the Earl was. 

And when I had tarried there a three days in 
great pleasure, for the city was delectable, standing 
among the fair vines, and environed with a fair river 
large and clear, called Liege, on a day it so fortuned 
that thither came a knight of the Earl of Foix, from 
Avignon-ward, called Sir Espaing du Lyon, a valiant 
and an expert man of arms, about the age of fifty 
years. 

And so I gat me into his company; and he was 
greatly desirous to hear of the matters of France ; 
and so we were a six days in our journey, before 
we came to Orthes, and this knight, every day, after 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 141 

he had said his prayers, most part all the day after he 
took his pastime with me, in demanding of tidings ; 
and also when I demanded anything of him, he would 
answer me to my purpose. 

And when we departed from Pamiers, we passed 
by the mount of Cesse, which was an evil passage, 
and so we came to the town and castle of Ortingas, 
which was French ; but we passed by it, and so 
came to dinner to a castle of the Earl of Foix, half 
a league thence, called Carlat, standing high on a 
mountain. 

Of the taking of the Castles of Ortingas and le Paillier, by 
Peter d'Anchin, a Knight of Bigorre 

After dinner the knight said to me, " Sir, let us 
ride together fair and easily ; we have but two leagues 
to ride to our lodging : " and so I was content to do. 

Then the knight said, " We have this day passed 
by the castle of Ortingas, which doth much damage 
in this country : Peter d'Anchin keepeth it, and 
hath taken and stolen out of the realm of France 
more than threescore thousand francs." 

Then I demanded how that might be. 

" I shall shew you," quoth the knight. " On 
our Lady's day in August, there is ever a great fair, 
and all the country resorts thither, for there is 
much merchandise. That day Peter d'Anchin and 
his companions of Lourdes had taken their counsel. 



142 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

and were determined to get this town and castle : 
and so they sent two simple varlets, as they seemed, 
to the said town, in the month of May, to get them- 
selves some service in the town. And so they did, 
and were retained with two masters, and they did 
right diligent service to their masters, and so went 
in and out on their masters* business, without any 
suspiciousness of them. 

" And so on our Lady's day in August there 
were many merchants, strangers, of Foix, of Beam 
and of France ; and as ye know well, when mer- 
chants do meet that have not come together for 
long before, they will make good cheer together: 
and so in the same houses where these two varlets 
were in service, were many merchants drinking and 
making good cheer, and their hosts with them : and 
by appointment, about midnight, Peter d'Anchin 
and his company came to Ortingas, and ambushed 
themselves in a wood which we passed through. 

" And so they sent six varlets to the town with 
two ladders ; and they passed the dykes, and came 
to the walls and reared up their ladders ; and the 
other two varlets that were in service in the town 
did aid them, while their masters sat making good 
cheer. So these said varlets did put themselves in 
adventure, and one of the said two brought the 
other six to the gate within, where there were two 
men keeping the keys. 



\ 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart I43 

" Then this varlet said to the other six, ' Sirs, keep 
yourselves here privy and close, and stir not till ye 
hear me whistle : I trust to make the porters open 
the gate of their ward ; they have the keys of the 
great gate ; and therefore, as soon as they have 
opened their ward, I will whistle : then step forth 
and slay the porters : I know well enough the keys 
of the gate, for I have oftentimes helped to keep 
the gate with my master.' 

"And as they devised so they did: and so the 
varlet went to the gate, and saw and heard how the 
porters were drinking within their ward. 

" Then he called them by their names, and said : 
' Sirs, open your door. I have brought you of the 
best wine that ever you drank, which my master 
hath sent you, to the intent you should keep your 
watch the better.' And they, who knew right well 
the varlet, believed that he had said truth, and 
opened the door : and then he whistled, and the 
other six stepped forth and entered in at the door ; 
and there they slew the porters so privily that none 
knew thereof 

" Then they took the keys and went and opened 
the gate, and let down the bridge easily, so that 
none knew thereof: then they blew a blast on a 
horn, so that they that were ambushed mounted 
on their horses, and came on the spur, and entered 
on the bridge and came into the town, and so took 



144 The Journey of Sir John Frolssart 

all the men of the town drinking, or else in their 
beds. 

" Thus was Ortingas taken by Peter d'Anchin of 
Bigorre, and by his companions of Lourdes." 

Then I demanded of the knight how they got 
the castle. 

" I shall shew you," quoth he. " The same 
time that Ortingas was thus taken, the captain of 
the castle, by ill-adventure, was in the town, and 
supped with certain merchants of Carcassonne, and 
was there taken among others : and the next morn- 
ing Peter d'Anchin brought him before the castle, 
where his wife and children were, and made them be- 
lieve that he would strike off his head, without his 
wife would deliver up the castle ; and if she would 
do so, he promised to deliver her husband free, and 
to suffer him and all his to depart with bag and 
baggage, without any hurt : and the lady, who saw 
herself in a hard case, and saw she was not able to 
make war herself, for saving of her husband's life 
she yielded up the castle ; and so her husband and 
she and all theirs departed, and went to Pamiers. 

" Thus Peter d'Anchin had the town and castle 
of Ortingas ; and the same time that they entered, he 
and his company won above thirty thousand francs, 
what with merchandise and prisoners of France : but 
all such as were of the county of Foix, or of Beam, 
were clean delivered without any damage. And 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 145 

this Peter d'Anchin kept Ortingas for the space 
of five years ; and he and his company ofttimes 
would run to the gates of Carcassonne, which was 
a six leagues thence, and did great damage to the 
country, as well by putting the towns to ransom as 
by pillage over all the country. 

" In the mean season that Peter d'Anchin was in 
the garrison of Ortingas, on a night certain of his 
company went out, and came to a castle called le 
Paillier, a good league thence, whereof a French 
knight, called Raymond du Paillier, was owner. 
They had been there often before, and failed of their 
purpose ; but now their hap was such, that they 
scaled the castle and took it, and the knight and the 
lady, in their beds : and they let the lady and her 
children go free, but they kept still the knight in 
his own castle, the space of four months, and at last 
he paid a thousand francs for his ransom. 

"And finally, when they had sore overridden the 
country, they sold these two castles, Ortingas and 
le Paillier, to them of the country, for eight thou- 
sand francs ; and then they went to Lourdes, their 
principal garrison. So thus in this manner of ad- 
venture knights did put themselves daily. 

" Also the same time there was an expert man of 
arms in the castle of Lourdes, a Gascon born ; he 
was called Le Mengeant de St. Basile ; on a time 
he and thirty with him departed from Lourdes, and 



146 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

rode at all adventures into Toulousain, and had 
thought to have got the castle of Penne in Albigeois, 
but he missed of his intent : and when he saw that 
he failed of his purpose, he came to the gate and 
made a great skirmish. 

"And the very same hour the Seneschal of Tou- 
louse rode forth, and with him Sir Hugh de Froide- 
ville, and a sixty spears, and came by adventure to 
Penne, while the said skirmish was in doing. Then 
immediately they set foot to the earth, and came 
to the barriers, and so then Le Mengeant was over- 
matched : but there he fought valiantly hand to 
hand, and wounded the other knight in two or three 
places : howbeit finally he was taken by force, and 
his men either taken or slain ; there were but a few 
that scaped. 

" So this Le Mengeant was led to Toulouse, and 
then the commons of the town would have slain 
him between the hands of the Seneschal : he had 
much pains to save his life, and so brought him into 
the castle, for he was right ill-beloved in Toulouse. 
Yet after, it happed so well for him, that the Duke 
of Berry came thither, and this knight had such 
friends that he was delivered, and the Seneschal had 
a thousand francs for his ransom. 

"And when he was delivered, he returned to 
Lourdes, and began again to make new enterprises. 
And so on a time he departed from Lourdes, and 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 147 

RvQ with him, without any armour; and he did on 
the habit of a monk, and his men Hke other three 
monks with him ; and they all had shaven crowns, 
so that every man that saw them weened surely that 
they had been monks, the habit and gesture became 
them so well. 

"And in this manner he came to Montpellier, and 
took up his lodging at the sign of the Angel, and 
said how he was an abbot of Upper Gascony, and was 
going to Paris on certain business pertaining to his 
House. And so he got familiar acquaintance with a 
rich man of the town called Beranger, who had also 
to do at Paris certain business : then this abbot said 
how he would pay for his costs if he listed to go in 
his company: whereof the good man was right joy- 
ous, in that he should have his charges borne. 

"And so he and one servant with him went forth 
with this monk : and when they had ridden a three 
leagues, this counterfeit monk. Sir Le Mengeant, 
took him prisoner, and led him by secret ways to 
his garrison at Lourdes, and after did ransom him 
at five thousand francs." 

Then I said, "Ah ! St. Mary, was this Le Men- 
geant such an expert man of arms ? " 

" Yea, truly Sir," quoth he, " and in war he died, 
in a place where we shall pass within this three 
days, in a country called Larre in Bigorre, by a town 
called L'Archinach." 



148 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" Well, Sir," quoth I, " and I shall remember you 
thereof, when we come there.'* 



How Sir John Froissart came to Casseres, and there Sir 
Espaing du Lyon shewed him of the taking of the town 
by the Armagnacs and again by the Earl of Foix 

And so we rode until we came to Montesquieu, a 
good walled town, pertaining to the Earl of Foix: 
and when we were almost there, we had thought to 
have passed the bridge of Garonne, to have entered 
into the town ; but we could not, for the day before 
it had sore rained from the mountains of Catalonia 
and Aragon, whereby another river, which was called 
Saluz, was so increased, and ran so fast, that it raised 
up the river of Garonne in such wise, that it brake 
one of the arches of the bridge, which was of timber: 
wherefore we returned again to Montesquieu, and 
tarried there all the day. 

Then the next day the Knight had counsel to 
pass the river by boats, by the town of Casseres : so 
we rode thither, and did so much that we passed the 
river of Garonne, with great pain and peril ; for the 
boat that we were in was not very great ; it could 
not take at one time but two horses and their 
keepers, and them that ruled the boat. 

And so when we were over, we rode to Casseres 
and abode there all that day : and in the meantime 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 149 

that our supper was a-dressing, this knight said to 
me, " Sir John, let us go and see the town." 

And so we passed along through the town, and 
came to the gate towards Palaminich, and went out 
thereat, and came to the dykes : then the knight 
shewed me a piece of the wall, and said, " Sir, see 
you yonder part of the wall which is newer than all 
the rest ? " 

"Yea, Sir," quoth I. 

" Well,'* quoth he, " I shall show you why it is 
so: it is a ten year past since it fortuned. Ye have 
heard before this of the war that was between the 
Earl of Armagnac and the Earl of Foix, howbeit 
now they are in peace; but the Armagnacs and 
Labrissiens won but little by that war, for on a St. 
Nicholas even, the year of our Lord a thousand 
three hundred threescore and two, the Earl of Foix 
took in battle the Earl of Armagnac and the Lord 
d'Albret his nephew, and all the noble men that 
were with them, and so led them as prisoners to 
Orthes; whereby the Earl of Foix hath received ten 
times a hundred thousand francs. 

" And it fortuned afterwards, that the father of the 
Earl of Armagnac now living, called Sir John of 
Armagnac, made a journey and took this town of 
Casseres; and they had with them a two hundred 
men of arms, and so thought to keep the town by 
strength. 



150 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" These tidings when they came to the knowledge 
of the Earl of Foix, being then at Pau, he, like a sage 
and valiant knight, called to him two knights of his 
called Sir Arnaut Guillaume and Sir Peter de Beam, 
and said to them, ' Sirs, I will that ye ride immedi- 
ately to Casseres : I shall send you men on every 
side, and within three days I shall be with you my- 
self: and let none come out of the town, but that 
ye fight with them, for ye shall be strong enough. 
And when ye come there, cause the men of the 
country to bring thither great plenty of wood, 
bushes and faggots, and choke the gates therewith, 
and then outside that make strong barriers ; for I 
will that they that be within be so inclosed that they 
issue not out of the gates: I shall cause them to 
take another way.' 

" These two knights did his commandment, and 
•so went to Palaminich ; and all men of war of Beam 
followed them ; and so they came before this town 
of Casseres. They that were within set little by 
them, but they were not aware how they were in- 
closed within the town, so that they could not issue 
out at any gate. 

" And the third day the Earl of Foix came thither 
with five hundred men of arms, and as soon as he 
came he caused barriers to be made round about the 
town, and also barriers round about his host, so that 
they should not be troubled in the night time. So 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 151 

in this case they lay long, without any assault, inso- 
much that victual began to fail them within ; for 
though they had wine great plenty, they had noth- 
ing to eat, nor could they flee away by the river, for 
it was then too deep. Then they thought it were 
better to yield themselves as prisoners, than to die 
so shamefully for famine; and so fell in treaty with 
the Earl of Foix. 

" The Earl agreed to their treaty, on condition 
that they should not issue out at no gate, but to 
make a hole in the wall, and go out thereat, one by 
one, without armour, and so to yield them as pris- 
oners. They were forced to take this way, and so 
made a hole in the wall and issued out, one by one : 
and there was the Earl ready, and all his people, in 
order of battle, to receive them as prisoners. 

" And ever as they came out, the Earl sent them 
to divers castles as prisoners : and his cousin Sir 
John of Armagnac, Sir Bernard d' Albret, Sir Manant 
de Barbasan, Sir Raymond de Benach, Sir Benedict 
de la Corneille, and a twenty of the best personages, 
he led with him to Orthes ; and before they de- 
parted he had of them two hundred thousand 
francs. And thus was this hole in the wall made." 

And then we went to our supper. 



152 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

How Sir John Froissart and the Knight rode by the river 
of Garonne 

The next day we rode along by the river of 
Garonne, and passed by Palaminich ; and then we 
entered into the land of the Karl of Comminges 
and the Earl of Armagnac, and on the other side 
was the river of Garonne and the land of the Earl 
of Foix. 

And as we rode this knight shewed me a strong 
town, called Marteras le Toussac, pertaining to the 
Earl of Comminges, and on the other side of the 
river, on the mountain, he showed me two castles 
pertaining to the Earl of Foix, the one called Mon- 
taural, and the other Montclare. 

And as we rode between these towns and castles, 
along by the river of Garonne, in a fair meadow, 
this knight said to me : " Sir John, I have seen here 
many fair skirmishes and encounterings between 
the Foixiens and the Armagnacs; for then there 
was no town nor castle but that it was well furnished 
with men of war, and so they warred each upon 
other. The Armagnacs against yonder two castles 
made a wooden fort, and kept it with men of war, 
and did much hurt in the Earl of Foix' land : but I 
shall shew you how it fortuned. 

" The Earl of Foix on a night sent Sir Peter de 
Beam, with two hundred spears, and with them a 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 153 

four hundred common men of the country, charged 
with faggots, much wood and bushes, and brought it 
to the fort, and then set fire thereon, and so burned 
the fort and all them that were within, without 
mercy ; and since then it was never made again." 

So in such talk we rode all that day along by the 
river of Garonne, and what on the one side and on 
the other, we saw many fair castles and fortresses : 
all that were on our left hand pertained to the Earl 
of Foix, and the other side pertained to the Earl of 
Armagnac. 

And so thus we passed by Montpesac, a fair cas- 
tle and a strong, standing on an high rock, and un- 
derneath was the town and the highway, and a little 
without the town there was a place called La Garde, 
and a tower between the rock and the river, which 
tower had a gate and a portcullis of iron : six men 
might well keep this passage against all the world, 
for there could no man pass but two on a front, 
what for the tower on the one side and the river on 
the other side. 

Then I said to the knight, " Sir, here is a strong 
passage, and a mighty country." 

" It is true," quoth the knight, "but though the 
entry be strong, yet the Earl of Foix did conquer it 
once, and he and all his passed the same way, with 
the help of the archers of England that he had then 
in his company, and the great desire that they had 



154 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

to pass into the country. Come ride near me, Sir," 
quoth he, " and I shall shew you how it was." 

And so I rode just by him, and then he said : 
" Sir, on a time the Earl of Armagnac, and the 
Lord d' Albret, with a five hundred men of war, came 
into the country of Foix, and to the marshes of 
Pamiers ; and this was in the beginning of August, 
when men did gather in their corn, and the grapes 
were ripe, at which time there was great abundance 
in the country. Then Sir John of Armagnac and 
his company lodged before the town Sauredun, a 
little league from the city of Pamiers ; and he sent 
word to them of Pamiers, that without they would 
buy their own corn and wines, and pay for them, 
he would burn and destroy all together. 

" Then they of Pamiers were in great fear, for the 
Earl their lord was far off from them, for he was 
then in Beam ; and so they were fain to buy their 
own corn, and paid for it five thousand francs : but 
they desired fifteen days of respite, which was granted 
them. 

" Then the Earl of Foix was informed of all this 
business ; and he hasted him as much as he might, 
and assembled together his men, and marched has- 
tily towards the city of Pamiers and passed by La 
Garde, by this portcullis of iron, and conquered it, 
and came suddenly into the city of Pamiers with 
twelve hundred spears, and so had fought with Sir 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 155 

John of ArmagnaCj if he had tarried, but he de- 
parted and went into the country of Comminges. 

" So he had no money of them of Pamiers, for 
he had no leisure to tarry therefor : but then the 
Earl of Foix claimed the same sum, for he said he 
had come and saved their money and corn, and had 
put away all their enemies ; and so he had it to pay 
his men of war therewith ; and there he tarried till 
they had got in all their corn and vintage." 

And so we passed then foreby a castle called La 
Bretite, and also by another castle called Bacelles, 
all pertaining to the Earl of Comminges. And as 
we rode along by the river, I saw a fair castle and a 
great town ; and I demanded of the knight what 
the castle was called ; and he said it was named 
Montespan, pertaining to a cousin of the Earl of 
Foix, called Sir Roger d'Espaign, a great baron in 
the country, and in Toulousain ; and he was then 
Seneschal of Carcassonne. 

Then I demanded of this knight, if he were akin 
to Sir Charles d'Espaign, who was Constable of 
France : and he answered and said, " No, he is not 
of that blood, for Sir Louis d'Espaign, and this Sir 
Charles that ye speak of, came both out of the realm 
of Spain, and were lineally descended of Spain, and 
of France by their mother's side ; and were cousins- 
german to King Alfonso of Spain : and I served in 
my youth under Sir Louis d'Espaign in the wars 



156 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

of Brittany, for he was always on the party of Sir 
Charles of Blois, against the Earl of Montfort." 

And so we left speaking of that matter, and rode 
to St. Gouffers, a good town of the Earl of Foix. 

Of the wars that the Dukeof Anjou made against the Eng^ 
lishmen, and how he recovered the Castle of Malvoisin 
in Bigorre which was afterward given to the Earl of 
Foix 

The next day we dined at Moncuil, a good strong 
town of the French King's, and Sir Roger d'Espaign 
kept it : and after dinner we rode the way towards 
Lourdes, and so rode through a great heath, endur- 
ing a fifteen leagues, called the heath of Lanebourg, 
wherein were many dangerous passages, by reason 
of thieves and evil-doers. 

And in this heath stood the castle of La Mesere, 
pertaining to the Earl of Foix, a good league from 
the town of Tournay ; the which castle the knight 
shewed me, and then said, " Sir, behold yonder is 
Malvoisin : but. Sir, have ye heard heretofore of 
the Duke of Anjou, when he was in this country 
and went to Lourdes, what he did in this country 
and how he laid siege to Lourdes, and won it, and 
also the castle of Trigalet, on the river-side that 
ye see yonder before us, and which pertaineth to 
the Lord de la Barde ? " 

Then I considered, and said, " Sir, I trow I never 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 157 

heard thereof as yet ; therefore I pray you shew 
me the matter : but first, Sir, I pray you shew me 
where is the river of Garonne become, for I can see 
it no more." 

" Ye say truth," quoth the knight ; " it departeth 
here, in the entering of these mountains ; and it 
groweth and cometh out of a fountain a three leagues 
lower on the way to Catalonia, by a castle called St 
Beart, on the frontier of the realm of France towards 
Aragon ; and there is now a squire called Ernauton, 
otherwise called the Bourg d'Espaign, who is lord 
thereof, and chatelain of all the country; and he is 
cousin-german to Sir Roger d'Espaign; if we see 
him I shall shew you him, for he is a goodly person 
and a good man of arms, and he hath done more 
damage to them of Lourdes than any other knight 
or squire of all the country, and the Earl of Foix 
loveth him right well, for he is his companion in 
arms. 

" I will leave speaking of him, for I think at this 
feast of Christmas ye shall see him in the Earl of 
Foix' house ; but now I shall shew you of the Duke 
of Anjou, how he came into this country, and what 
he did." 

Then we rode forth fair and easily, and he began 
to say as followeth : — 

" After the beginning of the wars, when they began 
to win from the Englishmen that which they held 



15B The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

in Aquitaine, and Sir Oliver de Clisson was become 
French, he led the Duke of Anjou into Brittany on to 
the lands of Sir Robert Knollys, and to the siege of 
Derval : for of this ye have heard before, as I think, 
and of the treaty that Sir Hugh Broc, cousin to Sir 
Robert, made with the Duke of Anjou, to render up 
the castle and deliver good hostages, so that the 
Duke of Anjou should not come to raise the siege; 
but when Sir Robert Knollys was within the castle 
of Derval, then he would not hold to the treaty.'* 

"All this is true. Sir," quoth I. 

" Well," quoth he, " but have you heard of the 
skirmish that was before the castle, -when Sir Oliver 
de Clisson was wounded ? " 

" Sir, I cannot tell you," quoth I, " I cannot re- 
member all ; wherefore. Sir, 1 pray you, shew me of 
the skirmish, and of the siege, what came thereof; 
for peradventure ye know it some other ways than I 
do ; and then ye shall return again well enough to 
your purpose, to speak of them of Lourdes and of 
Malvoisin." 

" It is true," quoth the knight : " it was so, that 
Sir Garsis du Chatel, a right valiant knight of the 
country, and a good Frenchman, went to the Duke 
of Anjou to cause him to come before Malvoisin. 
The Duke had made his summons to march before 
Derval, and made this Sir Garsis, for his valiantness, 
marshal of his host : and true it is, as I heard say. 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 159 

that when he saw that Sir Robert Knollys would not 
keep the treaty that was made before nor would not 
deliver the castle of Derval, then Sir Garsis came to 
the Duke and said : ^ Sir, what shall we do with these 
hostages ? It is no fault in them that the castle is not 
given up, and it were great pity that they should 
die, for they be gentlemen and have deserved no 
death.' 

" Then the Duke said, ' Were it good then to 
deliver them ? ' 

" ' Yea, truly. Sir,' quoth the knight, ' it were great 
pity otherwise.' 

" 'Well,' quoth the Duke, 'do therein as ye list.' 

" Then this Sir Garsis went to deliver them : and 
as he went. Sir Oliver de Clisson met him, and de- 
manded whither he went and from whence he came. 

" ' I come from my lord the Duke of Anjou, and 
am going to deliver the hostages.' 

" ' To deliver them ? ' quoth Sir Oliver, ' abide a 
little, and return again with me to the Duke.' 

" And so they came to the Duke, who was in his 
lodging, in a great study. 

" Sir Oliver saluted him and said : ' Sir, what is your 
intent ? Shall not these hostages suffer death ? By 
my faith they shall, in despite of Sir Robert Knollys 
and Sir Hugh Broc, who have been false to their 
faith : wherefore. Sir, I will have ye to know, that 
without they die, I shall wear no armour, this whole 



i6o The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

year after, in none of your wars. If they should 
scape thus, it were good cheap ; the siege hath cost 
you threescore thousand francs, and now you are 
willing to shew grace to your enemies, who keep 
with you neither faith nor truth.* 

" With these words the Duke began to chafe, and 
said, ' Sir Oliver, do therein as ye think best.' 

" ' Then,' quoth Sir Oliver, ' I will that they lose 
their lives: there is good cause why, since they keep 
not their promise.' 

" Then Sir Oliver departed from the Duke, and 
came to a place before the castle : and Sir Garsis 
durst not speak one word for them ; for if he had, 
he should have lost his labour, since Sir Oliver had 
taken on him the enterprise. Then he called the 
hangman, and made him strike off the heads of two 
knights and two squires ; which was great pity, and 
there were more than two hundred in the host, that 
wept for them. 

" And immediately Sir Robert Knollys opened a 
postern gate, and on the brim of the dykes, in de- 
spite of the Frenchmen, he caused to strike off the 
heads of all the prisoners that he had, without any 
respite, and immediately opened the castle gate and 
let down the bridge, and issued out and came to the 
barriers, and skirmished with the Frenchmen ; and, 
as Sir Garsis shewed me, there was a sore skirmish, 
and there Sir Oliver de Clisson was hurt, and so re- 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart i6i 

turned to his lodging. There were there two very 
good men of arms, squires of the country of Beam, 
Bertram de Barege and Ernauton du Pin, and they 
were both sore hurt. 

" And the next day the Duke dislodged and went 
from Derval to Toulouse, to the intent to destroy 
Lourdes ; for they of Toulouse complained greatly 
of the garrison of Lourdes. So then the Duke went 
first and laid siege to Malvoisin, which we may see 
yonder before us : and the Duke had in his com- 
pany an eight thousand men of war, beside the 
Genoese and the commons of the good towns. 
Captain then of Malvoisin was a squire of Gascony, 
called Raymonet de I'Epee, an expert man of arms. 
Every day at the barriers there was skirmishes and 
goodly feats of arms done ; and the Duke lay in 
yonder fair meadows, between the town of Tournay 
and the castle, by the river-side of Lisse. 

"During this siege. Sir Garsis, marshal of the host, 
went with five hundred men of arms and two hun- 
dred archers and crossbows, and a two thousand of 
other common soldiers, and laid siege to the castle of 
Trigalet, which we have left here behind us, and which 
a squire of Gascony kept for the Lord de la Barde; 
for he was his cousin, and was called le Bastot de 
Mauleon; and he had within the castle a forty com- 
panions, and they did in that country such master- 
ful doings, that none could go that way but they 



1 62 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

were taken prisoners, without it were the pilgrims 
that went to the shrine of St. James. They had 
also the aid of another fortress called Nemilleux: in 
these two garrisons all the robbers and plunderers 
of the country assembled ; and ever they were 
against the Earl of Foix, and also against the Earl 
of Armagnac ; wherefore they cared not, though the 
Duke of Anjou came into that country. 

" And when Sir Garsis was come before the castle 
of Trigalet, he could not approach on the one part 
for the river, and so gave a great assault, and many 
men were hurt, both within and without, with shot : 
and five days together this Sir Garsis made assaults, 
so that at last the artillery within began to fail them, 
and the Frenchmen perceived it very well. 

" Then out of gentleness Sir Garsis caused the 
Captain to come and speak with him under safe 
conduct, and said to him : ' Bastot, I know well 
what case ye be in ; ye have no artillery within, nor 
nothing to defend you from the assault but spears. 
Know for truth, that if ye be taken by force, I can- 
not save your life nor none of your company, for 
the commons of the country will slay you all, which 
I would be loth to see, for ye are my cousin : there- 
fore I counsel you to yield up the fortress ; and 
since I desire you so to do, ye can bear no blame in 
your so doing. So depart hence whither ye list, 
for ye have kept this castle long enough.' 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 163 

" ' Sir,' quoth the squire : ' I would gladly follow 
your counsel, if it were on a matter outside deeds 
of arms, for indeed I am your cousin : but, Sir, I 
cannot yield up this fortress all alone, for such as 
be within have as good part thereof as I have, 
though they hold me for their captain. Sir, I shall 
go to them and shew them as ye have said : if they 
agree to render it up, I shall not say nay ; and if 
they will keep it still, whatsoever adventure may 
befall, I shall take such part as they do.' 

"'It is well said,' quoth Sir Garsis; Mepart when 
ye will, I know your intent.' 

" Then the Bastot de Mauleon returned to the 
castle of Trigalet, and called all his company to- 
gether, and there shewed them all the saying of Sir 
Garsis, and so demanded of them what they thought 
was best to do. 

" And so they counselled together a long space : 
some would abide the adventure, and said how they 
were strong enough ; and some would depart, and 
said how it was a good time so to do, seeing that 
they had no more artillery, and saw well how the 
Duke of Anjou was cruel, and the commons of 
Toulouse, of Carcassonne and of other towns there- 
about, were sore displeased with them for the great 
damages that they had done to them. So, all things 
considered, they concluded to yield up the castle, 
on condition that they should be safely conducted. 



164 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

and all theirs, to Chateau Cullie, the which was 
kept by some of their companions on the frontier 
of Toulousain. 

" So thus the captain returned again to the host 
to speak with Sir Garsis ; and he agreed to their de- 
sires, for he saw well the castle would not lightly be 
won by assault, without loss of much people. So 
then they prepared to depart, and trussed all their 
baggage, for they had much plunder ; they took 
with them the best, and left the residue ; and Sir 
Garsis conveyed them to Cullie without danger. 

" Thus the Frenchmen at that time got this castle 
of Trigalet. Then Sir Garsis did give the castle to 
the commons of the country, and they did raze it 
down, as ye see, so that there was never none since 
that would rebuild it again. 

" And so from thence Sir Garsis went towards the 
castle of Nemilleux, standing on these heaths near 
to the castle of Mesen ; and as he went thither- 
ward, one shewed him that the castle of Nemilleux 
was void, and they were departed that kept it. 
Then Sir Garsis tarried in the field, and devised 
what was best then to do. 

" Then the Seneschal of Nobesen said : ' Sir, this 
castle of Nemilleux is in my bailiwick, and it ought 
to pertain to the Earl of Foix. I pray you let me 
have it, and I shall make it to be so kept, on my 
proper cost and charge, that no man that will do 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 165 

any hurt to the country shall never enter there- 
in. 

" ^ Sir,' quoth they of Toulouse, ' he saith well, 
and he is a valiant man ; it were better he had it 
than another.' 

" ' Well,' quoth Sir Garsis, ' I am content.' 

" Thus the castle of Nemilleux was delivered to 
the Seneschal of Nobesen, who immediately rode 
thither, and found it clean void. Then he newly 
fortified what was broken, and he set therein a cap- 
tain, a squire of the country, called Fortifie de St. 
Pol ; and then he returned to the siege of Malvoi- 
sin, where the Duke was ; and ^Iso thither was 
come Sir Garsis and all his company, and shewed 
the Duke all that he had done. 

" This siege endured about a six weeks, and nigh 
every day there was skirmishing at the barriers : at 
last they without stopped their water, so that their 
cisterns began to dry, and in six weeks there fell 
not a drop of rain, the season was so dry and hot ; 
but they without had ease enough by reason of the 
fair river. 

" When they within saw what case they were in, 
they were sore abashed, for they saw well they could 
not long endure : wine, they had plenty, but fresh 
water failed them. Then they determined to tall in 
treaty with the Duke, and so they did, and Ray- 
monet de I'Epee demanded a safe conduct to go 



1 66 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

into the host to speak with the Duke; and so he 
did, and said, 'Sir, if ye will be courteous to me and 
to my company, I shall render into your hands the 
castle of Malvoisin.' 

" ' What courtesy would ye,' quoth the Duke, 
' that I should shew you ? Depart your way, you 
and all yours, into your own countries, and enter 
not into no fortress that holdeth against us ; for 
if ye do, and if I get you or any of you, I shall 
deliver you to Jocelyn, who shall make your beards 
without any razor.' 

" ' Sir,' quoth Raymonet, ' if we shall depart, shall 
we have with us all our bags and baggages, for that 
we have won it by arms and in great adventure?' 

"Then the Duke studied a little and said, 'I am 
content that ye bear with you as much as ye can 
bear in packs and on sumpter horses, and none 
otherwise, and if ye have any prisoners, that ye 
deliver them to us.' 

" ' I am content,' quoth Raymonet. 

" Thus all they within departed and yielded up 
the castle to the Duke of Anjou ; but Raymonet 
de I'Epee turned and became French, and served 
the Duke of Anjou longtime after, and went with 
him into Italy, and there died in a skirmish before 
Naples." 



I 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 167 



Of the Treasure of the Earl of Fo 



IX 



"Thus," quoth the knight, "the Duke of Anjou 
got the castle of Malvoisin, whereof be great joy, 
and made it to be kept by a knight of Bigorre, called 
Sir Ciquart de Luperiere, and afterwards he gave it 
to the Earl of Foix, who keepeth it yet, and will do 
as long as he liveth ; and he hath made a captain 
there a knight of Bigorre, one of his own lineage, 
called Sir Raymond de Lane. And when the Duke 
of Anjou had the possession of Malvoisin, and had 
delivered his country from the Englishmen and 
from the plunderers of the country, then he went 
and laid siege before the castle of Lourdes. Then 
the Earl of Foix doubted greatly the Duke of Anjou, 
because he came so near him ; and wist not what he 
intended. 

" Then the Earl of Foix assembled together 
knights and squires and sent them about to divers 
garrisons, and set his brother. Sir Guillaume, in the 
town of Morlens, with two hundred spears, his other 
brother. Sir Peter de Beam, with two hundred spears 
in the town of Pau, and Sir Peter de Cabestan into 
the city of L'Estrade with other two hundred spears, 
and Sir Mouvant de Noailles went into the town 
of Hertillet with a hundred spears, and Sir Crual 
Geberel into the town of Mont-Geberel with a 
hundred spears. Sir Fouquant d'Ortery into the 



1 68 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

town of Sauveterre with a hundred spears ; and I, 
Espaing du Lyon, was sent to Mont de Mersen 
with two hundred spears. There was no castle in 
all Beam but was well provided with men of war ; 
and the Earl himself lay still at his castle of Orthes 
by his florins." 

"Why, Sir," quoth I, "hath he so great plenty 
of florins ? " 

" Sir," quoth he, " at this hour I think he hath 
well to the number of thirty times a hundred thou- 
sand : there is no lord living now that is so large 
and liberal in giving of gifts as he is." 

Then I demanded of him to what manner of 
people he was so liberal. 

He answered and said, " To strangers, to knights 
and squires coming through his country, and to 
heralds and minstrels, and to every man that speak- 
eth with him : there is none departeth from him 
without some reward, for if any refuse his gift, he is 
not content." 

"Ah! St. Mary! Sir," quoth I, "to what intent 
keepeth he so much money, and where doth he 
get it ^ Is his revenue so great, to gather together 
such treasure ? Sir, I would gladly know this, if it 
pleased you." 

"Well, Sir," quoth the knight, "ye shall know 
it : but ye have demanded of me two things : first 
ye have demanded of me, to what intent he keepeth 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 169 

such treasure ; I shall shew you. The Earl of 
Foix always doubteth of war with the Earl of Ar- 
magnac, and also for the business of his neighbours, 
the French King and the King of England, whom 
he would not willingly displease : for he hath always 
dissembled between them during all the war season 
unto this present time, for he never armed himself 
for any of their parties ; he hath always been ever 
in good case with both parties. 

" I say to you, and so ye shall say yourself when 
ye have once knowledge of him and have heard 
him speak, and once know the order and state of 
his house, ye shall see that he is at this day the 
most sage prince in the world ; and there is none 
so great a lord, neither the French King nor the 
King of England, that will willingly have his evil 
will : as for his other neighbours, such as the King 
of Aragon or the King of Navarre, he esteemeth 
them but little, for he will find more men of arms 
(by reason of such friends as he hath got with his 
gifts and money that he hath in treasure) than both 
those Kings can do : for I have heard him say, that 
when the King of Cyprus was in his country of 
Beam, and moved him to have gone to the voyage 
of the Holy Sepulchre, he had thought to have 
made that journey in such wise, that if the French 
King or the King of England had undertaken that 
enterprise, after them there should have been no 



lyo The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

lord that should have brought such a company as 
he would have done : and he is still of the same 
mind ; and in part that is one of the causes that 
he gathereth together such treasure. 

" The Prince of Wales, the season that he reigned 
in the country of Aquitaine, being at Bordeaux on 
the river of Garonne, thought to have mxade war on 
him. The Prince menaced him for the country of 
Beam, and would have had him to have held his 
country of him ; and the Earl said he would not, 
and said how his country of Beam was so free a 
land that it ought to do homage to no man of the 
world. 

" Then the Prince, who at that time was great 
and sore feared, said how he would compel him 
perforce ; for the Earl of Armagnac and the Lord 
d'Albret, who loved not the Earl of Foix, because 
of such victories as he had won on them before, they 
tickled the Prince ever in his ear, and enticed him 
to have made war against the Earl of Foix. But 
the voyage that the Prince made into Spain brake 
his purpose : also Sir John Chandos, who was 
chief of counsel with the Prince, was against it, that 
the Prince should make any war on the Earl. The 
Earl of Foix lov^ed right well Sir John Chandos, and 
he him ; but the Earl doubted the Prince, because 
he was fierce and courageous : and therefore he 
gathered together as much treasure as he could get. 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 171 

to the intent therewith to defend himself if need 
were. 

" And so he set great taxes in all his country and 
in every town ; which still endure, and shall do as 
long as he liveth : he had for every hearth every 
year two francs, the rich to bear out the poor : 
thereby he gathered, and still doth gather, great 
riches, and the people payeth it with a marvellous 
goodwill : for by reason thereof there is neither 
English nor French, nor robbers nor reivers, that 
doeth them any hurt to the value of one penny : 
and so his country is in safeguard and justice truly 
kept ; for in doing of justice he is right stern ; he 
is the most rightful lord that is now living." 

And so with these words we came to the town of 
Tournay, where we should rest all night : so then 
the knight ceased from his talking, and I remem- 
bered well where we left off, against the next day : 
and we were lodged at the sign of the Star, and took 
our ease. 

And at supper-time the Captain of Malvoisin, 
called Sir Raymond de Lane, came to see us, and 
supped with us, and brought with him four flagons 
of w^hite wine, the best that I drank of in all my 
journey. Those two knights talked long together, 
and when it was late Sir Raymond departed, and 
returned to the castle of Malvoisin. 



172 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

How the garrison and Castle of Lourdes was cast down 
and discomfited by the great dihgence that the Earl of 
Foix made 

The next morning we mounted on our horses, 
and departed from Tournay, and passed with a 
guide the river of Lisse, and rode towards the city 
of Tarbes, and entered into Bigorre ; and we left 
the way to Lourdes, to Bagneres, and to the castle 
of Montgaillard on the left hand, and we rode 
towards a village called Terra Cimitat, and did coast 
it, and came to a wood in the land of the Lord of 
Barbasan ; and we came near to a castle called 
Marteras, at the entry of the country of Larre. 

Then the knight said to me, " Sir John, behold 
now the pass of Larre ; and behold it well, and 
consider the country." 

It seemed to me right strange : I thought myself 
but as lost then, if I had not been in the company 
of that knight. Then I remembered the words that 
this knight had shewed me two or three days before, 
of that country of Larre and of Le Mengeant of 
Lourdes : then I said to him, " Sir, ye shewed me 
on the last days that when we should be in the 
country of Larre, that ye would shew me the manner 
of Le Mengeant of Lourdes, and how he died." 

" It is true. Sir," quoth the knight. " Come on 
and ride by me, and I shall shew you." 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 173 

Then I rode near him to hear his words, and 
then he said : — 

" Sir, in the season that Peter d'Anchin held 
the castle and garrison of Ortingas, as I have 
shewed you before this time, they of the garrison of 
Lourdes sometimes rode forth at adventure, far from 
their garrison. Howbeit they had not always the 
advantage, for ye may behold here the castle of 
Barbasan and the castle of Marteras, wherein there 
were always many men of war, and so in other gar- 
risons as Bagneres, Tournay, Montgaillard, Salenges, 
Benach, Gorre and Tarbes, all French towns and 
garrisons : and when these garrisons knew that 
they of Lourdes rode either towards Toulouse or 
Carcassonne, then they would lay ambushes for them, 
and sometimes take from them of Lourdes their 
prey and pillage, and sometimes they scaped with- 
out any encounter. 

" And on a time it fortuned that Ernauton de Ste. 
Colombe and Le Mengeant de St. Basile, and good 
men of war to the number of sixscore spears, 
departed from Lourdes, and went about the moun- 
tains between these two rivers, Lisse and Lesse, and 
so rode near to Toulouse : and at their returning 
they found in the meadows a great number of beasts, 
oxen and kine, hogs, sheep and lambs ; and also 
they took divers of the good men of the country 
prisoners, and so drove all their prey before them. 



174 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" Then it was shewed to the Captain of Tarbes, a 
squire of Gascony, called Ernauton Biffet, an expert 
man of arms, how they of the garrison of Lourdes 
were abroad and were coming homeward with a 
great prey : then he sent to the Lord of Benach and 
to Enguerros de Lane, eldest son to Sir Raymond, 
and also to the Lord of Barbasan, certifying them 
how he would ride out against them of Lourdes. 

" The knights and squires of the country of 
Bigorre agreed to ride forth, and assembled together 
at Tournay and with them there was the Bourg 
d'Espaign, who came from his garrison of St. Beart ; 
so they were to the number of two hundred spears ; 
and they had their spies abroad in the country to 
know what they of Lourdes did. 

" On the other side they of Lourdes had abroad 
their spies, to know if any men of war were abroad 
to hinder them in their enterprise ; and these did so 
much, that either party knew what the other did. 
When they of Lourdes knew how they of the French 
garrison were abroad, and tarried for them at Tour- 
nay, then they were in doubt, and took counsel 
what they might best do to save their prey. 

" Then they determined to part their company 
into two ; the one company to drive before them 
their prey with all their servants, and to go covertly 
by Lanebourg, and so to pass the way by the bridge 
of Tournay, and to pass the river of Lesse between 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 175 

Tournay and Malvoisin ; and the other company 
to ride in order of battle by the mountains, and to 
make shew to go again into the country of Larre, 
by Marteras, and so to fall in between Barbasan 
and Montgaillard ; and they said that if they met 
together about Montgaillard, then they should be 
in safeguard, ' For then,' they said, ' we shall be soon 
at Lourdes.' 

" Thus as they ordained, so they did : and the 
Bastard of Carnillac, Guillonet de Harnes, Perot 
Boursier, John Calemin de Bassele and the Red 
Squire, and forty spears and all their servants with 
all their prey, took the way by Lanebourg, and so 
to pass the river at the bridge between Tournay 
and Malvoisin, thinking to meet all together between 
Cimitat and Montgaillard. And so they departed ; 
and the other company were Ernauton de Resten, 
Ernauton de Ste. Colombe and Le Mengeant de 
St. Basile, with fourscore men of arms : there were 
not ten servants among them : so they made them- 
selves ready, and rode close together, ever looking 
for their enemies ; for they knew well they were 
abroad to watch for them. 

" In like manner as they of Lourdes had taken 
their advice and counsel how to return, in likewise 
the Frenchmen took counsel how they might en- 
counter their enemies : and Sir Monant de Barbasan 
and Ernauton Biffet said to their company, ' Sirs, 



176 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

we know well how they of Lourdes are abroad in the 
fields, and driving before them great prey and many 
prisoners : it should be a great displeasure to us if 
they should escape ; therefore let us put ourselves 
into two ambushes ; we are company enough so to 
do.' 

" Then it was ordained that Ernauton and the 
Bourg d'Espaign, Sir Raymond de Benach and 
Enguerros de Lane, with a hundred spears, should 
keep the passage at Tournay ; for they knew well 
that they of Lourdes, with their prey, must needs 
pass the river of Lisse : and it was ordained that 
the Lord of Barbasan and Ernauton BifFet, with a 
hundred spears, should ride at a venture. 

" So thus they departed, and the Lord of Benach 
and the Bourg d'Espaign put themselves in an 
ambush, between Malvoisin and Tournay ; and the 
other company rode and took the same way that 
we be now in, which is called the Larre : and here 
they met with them of Lourdes. And when each 
of them saw other, they alighted and made them 
ready to fight, and so came each against other, cry- 
ing their cries, ' St. George Lourdes ! ' and the 
others ' Our Lady of Bigorre.' 

"And so there each came to other with hand- 
strokes, foining with their spears at each other a 
great space ; and as I heard reported of them that 
were there, at the first brunt there was none over- 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 177 

thrown : and so when each of them had a great 
space foined each at other, they cast down their 
spears, and took their axes, and gave therewith each 
to other great and horrible strokes, every man with 
his match. And in that manner they fought to- 
gether more than two hours ; and when any of 
them had fought so long that they lacked breath, 
then they would fair and easily depart, and go sit 
down by a dyke side that was full of water, and 
put off their helmets and refresh themselves ; and 
when they were well refreshed, they put on their 
helmets and returned again to fight. I believe 
there was not such a business nor a battle so well 
fought, since the battle that was in Brittany, of 
thirty English and German knights against as many 
French, as this was here at Marteras in Bigorre. 

" Thus they fought hand to hand, and Ernauton 
de Ste. Colombe was at the point to have been dis- 
comfited by a squire of the country called Guillonet 
de Salenges. 

" This Ernauton de Ste. Colombe had a servant, 
who stood by and saw the battle, and fought not, 
for there was none that said anything to him : and 
when he saw his master almost in extremes, he was 
sorry, and so came to his master and took his axe 
out of his hands, and said, ^ Ernauton, go your way 
and rest you, you can no longer fight,' and then he 
with the axe went to the squire and gave him such 

N 



lyB The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

a stroke on the head that he was stunned, and had 
near fallen to the earth. 

" When Guillonet felt himself stricken he was 
sore displeased, and came against the servant to 
have stricken him ; but the servant stepped under 
the stroke, and embraced the squire, who was sore 
travailed with so long fighting, and so the servant, 
wrestling, overthrew him under him. 

" Then the servant said, ' I shall slay thee, with- 
out thou wilt yield thyself to my master.' 

" * Who is thy master ? ' quoth the squire. 

"'Ernauton de Ste. Colombe,' quoth the servant, 
' with whom thou hast fought all this time.' 

" The squire saw that he had not the vantage, but 
that he was under the servant, who had a dagger 
ready to strike him, so he yielded him, to render 
up his body prisoner at Lourdes, within fifteen days 
after, rescue or no rescue. 

" This service did this varlet to his master : and. 
Sir John, I assure you there were many feats of arms 
done, and many overthrown and taken prisoners, 
some to yield themselves in a certain space at 
Tarbes, and some to come to Lourdes. 

" They fought this day hand to hand, Ernauton 
BifFet with Le Mengeant de St. Basile : they did 
many a feat of arms between them ; and they fought 
so long, till they were so weary that they could aid 
themselves no longer ; and there were slain on the 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 179 

place two captains, Le Mengeant of Lourdes, and 
on the other part Ernauton Biffet. 

" Then ceased the battle by agreement of both 
parties, for they were so weary that they could scant 
hold their axes in their hands. Some unarmed 
them, to refresh themselves, and left their armour 
in the place. They of Lourdes bare away with 
them Le Mengeant slain, and the Frenchmen bare 
Ernauton Biffet to Tarbes: and to the intent that 
this battle should be had in remembrance, where the 
two squires fought there was set a cross of stone : 
behold, yonder is the cross." 

And with those words we came to the cross, and 
there we said for their souls a Pater Noster^ an Ave 
Maria^ a T)e profundis^ and Fidelium. 

" By my faith. Sir," quoth I, " I am glad I have 
heard this, for this was a sharp business for so few 
people. But, Sir, what became of them that went 
with the prey ? " 

" I shall shew you," quoth he. " They came to 
the part of Tournay beside Malvoisin thinking to 
have passed there as they had ordained, and there 
they found the ambush of the Bourg d'Espaign, 
who broke out of their ambush, and they of Lourdes 
could not recoil back ; they had no remedy but to 
adventure themselves. And I tell you truth, there 
was as sore a fight, and as long endured or longer 
than that at Marteras ; and there the Bourg d'Es- 



i8o The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

paign did marvels in arms. He had an axe in his 
hand; whosoever he struck therewith went to the 
earth, for he was big and well made, and not over- 
charged with much flesh : he took there with his 
own hands the two captains, the Bourg de Cornillac 
and Perot Palatin de Beam. And there was slain a 
squire of Navarre, called Ferdinand de Miranda, who 
was an expert man of arms : some that were at the 
business said that the Bourg d'Espaign slew him, and 
some said he was overcome of heat in his harness. 

" Finally the prey was rescued, and all taken or 
slain that went therewith : there were but three saved 
themselves, and they were servants, who departed 
and went over the river of Lisse. Thus ended this 
adventure : they of Lourdes never lost before so 
much as they did then ; they were courteously ran- 
somed, and divers deUvered by exchange one for 
another,' for divers of them that fought here at the 
place of Larre were taken by them of Lourdes ; 
therefore each party was courteous one to another in 
ransoming of their companions." 

"Ah ! St. Mary !" quoth I, "is the Bourg d'Es- 
paign so big a man as ye speak of? " 

" Yea, Sir, truly," quoth he, " for in all Gascony 
there is none like him in strength of body ; there- 
fore the Earl of Foix hath him ever in his company : 
it is not a three year past that he did in sport a great 
deed, as I shall shew you." 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart i8i 

Of the great strength of the Bourg d'Espaign, and how Sir 
Peter Arnaut de Beam kept his faith and angered two 
great lords 

" So it was that on Christmas Day the Earl of Foix 
held a great feast, and a plentiful of knights and 
squires, as it is his usage, and it was a cold day, and 
the Earl dined in the hall, and with him great com- 
pany of lords : and after dinner he departed out of 
the hall, and went up into a gallery of twenty-four 
stairs height, in which gallery there was a great 
chimney, wherein they made fire when the Earl was 
there. 

" And at that time there was but a small fire, for 
the Earl loved no great fire ; howbeit he had wood 
enough thereabout, and in Beam there is wood 
enough. The same day it was a great frost and 
very cold : and when the Earl was in the gallery, 
and saw the fire so small, he said to the knights and 
squires about him, ' Sirs, this is but a small fire, 
and the day so cold.' 

" Then Ernauton d'Espaign went down the stairs, 
and beneath in the court he saw a great many asses, 
laden with wood to serve the house. 

" Then he went and took one of the greatest 
asses, with all the wood, and laid him on his back, 
and went up all the stairs into the gallery, and did 
cast down the ass with all the wood into the chim- 



1 82 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

ney and the ass's feet upwards ; whereof the Earl 
of Foix had great joy, and so had all they that were 
there, and had marvel of his strength, how he alone 
came up all the stairs with the ass and the wood on 
his neck." 

I took great pleasure in this tale, and in others 
that this knight. Sir Espaing du Lyon, shewed me, 
whereof I thought my journey much too short. 

And in shewing of these matters, we passed the 
pass of Larre and the castle of Marteras, where the 
battle was ; and so we rode near to the castle of 
Barbasan, which is strong and fair, and is within 
a league of Tarbes, which we saw before us, and 
a fair road coasting the river of Lisse coming from 
the mountains. Then we rode fair and easily at 
our leisure, to refresh our horses, and there he 
shewed me the river, the castle and the town of 
Montgaillard, ^nd the way that lay to Lourdes. 

Then it came to my remembrance to demand of 
the knight how the Duke of Anjou, when he was 
in the country and the castle of Malvoisin was 
yielded to him, came before Lourdes, and what he 
did there : and with right a good will he shewed me 
and said : — 

" When the Duke of Anjou departed from Mal- 
voisin with all his host, he passed over the river of 
Lisse at the bridge of Tournay, and went and 
lodged at Bagneres, where there is a good river 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 183 

going to Tarbes: for this river of Tournay cometh 
not thither, but falleth into the river of Garonne 
beside MontmilHon. 

" And so the Duke went and laid siege to 
Lourdes, Sir Peter Arnaut de Beam and John his 
brother, Peter d'Anchin, Ernauton de Resten, 
Ernauton de Ste. Colombe, and Le Mengeant, who 
was then Hving, and Ferdinand de Miranda, with 
Oliver Barbe, the Bourg de Cornillac, and the 
Bourg Camus, and certain other companions, being 
within Lourdes : when they were well informed of 
the Duke's coming thither, they fortified themselves 
and their garrison against him, and held the town 
of Lourdes for all the assaults that the Duke made, 
which endured continually fifteen days, and there 
were many feats of arms done. The Duke ordained 
many instruments of war for the assault, so that 
finally the town was won ; but they lost neither man, 
woman nor goods, for they were all withdrawn into 
the castle, for they knew well at length that the 
town would not hold out, for it was closed but with 
dykes and palisades. When the town of Lourdes 
was won, the Frenchmen had great joy, and so 
lodged in the town round about the castle, which 
was not pregnable without it were with long 
siege. 

" There the Duke tarried more than six weeks, 
and lost more than he won ; for they without could 



184 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

do no hurt to them within, for the castle standeth 
on a round rock, made in such manner that no man 
could approach it by scaling nor otherwise, but by 
one entry ; and there at the barriers were many 
skirmishes and many feats of arms done, and divers 
knights and squires of France were hurt, such as 
would press too near. 

" When the Duke saw how he could not have 
his intent to get the castle of Lourdes, then he fell 
in treaty with the captain within, and offered him 
much money to give up the garrison. 

" The knight, who was of great valiantness, ex- 
cuseth himself, and said how the garrison was not 
his, but it pertained to the heritage of the King of 
England ; and said how he could not sell it, nor 
give it nor put it away, without he should be a 
traitor, which in no wise he would be, but true to 
his natural lord during his life : and moreover said 
that when the castle was delivered to him, it was on 
a condition, which he sware solemnly by his faith, 
laying his hand in the Prince of Wales's hand, that 
he should keep the castle of Lourdes against all 
men during his life, except it were against the King 
of England. 

" The Duke could never have other answer of 
him, for any gift nor promise that he could make. 
And when the Duke of Anjou and his council saw 
how they could have nothing else, and saw that 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 185 

they lost their pains, they dislodged ; and at their 
departing they clean burnt the town. 

" Then the Duke of Anjou drew back, coasting 
the frontier of Beam, and rode towards Montmar- 
sen, and had knowledge how the Earl of Foix had 
fortified all his garrisons with men of war, whereof 
he was nothing discontent ; but he was displeased 
in that the knights and squires of Beam held 
Lourdes against him. 

" The Earl of Foix, as I have shewed you before, 
doubted greatly the Duke of Anjou, though the 
Duke did him no hurt : but the Earl of Armagnac 
and the Lord d'Albret would have had the Duke 
make war on him, but the Duke had no such wish ; 
but while he lodged between Montmarsen and the 
hill of Albret, he sent to the Earl, to Orthes, Sir 
Peter de Beuil, whom the Earl received honour- 
ably, and lodged him in the castle of Orthes, and 
made him as good cheer as he could, and gave him 
mules and coursers, and to his men great gifts : and 
he sent by him to the Duke of Anjou four coursers 
and two greyhounds of Spain, fair and good. And 
there were secret treaties between the Earl and this 
Sir Peter de Beuil, of which treaties no man knew 
the intent for a good space after ; but afterwards by 
such evident tokens as appeared, we supposed 
somewhat; and the matter I shall shew you : and 
by that time we shall come to Tarbes. 



1 86 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" Anon, after that the Duke of Anjou had made 
his voyage and was at Toulouse, then the Earl of 
Foix sent with his letters certain messages to 
Lourdes, to his cousin, Sir Peter Arnaut de Beam, 
desiring him to come and speak with him at 
Orthes. And when the knight had read the Earl's 
letters, and saw his notable messengers, he had 
divers imaginations, and wist not whether he should 
go or abide : all things considered, he said he would 
go, because he wished in no wise to displease the 
Earl. 

" And when he departed from Lourdes, he said 
to John de Beam, his brother, in the presence of all 
the companions of the garrison, ' Brother John, the 
Earl of Foix hath sent for me, I cannot tell you 
why : but since it is his pleasure to speak with me, 
I will go to him. I fear me greatly that I shall be 
required to give up this fortress of Lourdes ; for the 
Duke of Anjou when he was in the country, he 
coasted the frontier of Beam, and entered not 
therein ; and the Earl of Foix hath long intended 
to have the castle of Malvoisin, to the intent to 
be lord of Lanebourg and of the frontiers of Com- 
minges and of Bigorre. 

" ' I know not what treaty there is made between 
him and the Duke of Anjou ; but one thing I say 
plainly : as long as I live I shall never yield up the 
garrison but to mine own natural lord, the King 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 187 

of England : wherefore, brother John, if I stablish 
you in mine absence to be captain here, ye shall 
swear to me, by the faith of your gentleness, that ye 
shall keep this castle in like manner and form as I 
do, and that for life or death ye fail not.' 

"And John de Beam sware to fulfil his desire. 

" Then Sir Peter Arnaut went to Orthes, and 
alighted at the sign of the Moon ; and when he 
thought it was time, he went to the castle of Orthes, 
to the Earl, who with great joy received him, and 
made him sit at his board, and shewed him as great 
semblance of love as he could. 

"And after dinner he said, ' Cousin Peter, I have 
to speak with you of divers things ; wherefore I will 
that ye depart not without my leave.' 

" The knight answered and said, ' Sir, I shall not 
depart till it be your pleasure.' 

" Then the third day after, the Earl of Foix said 
unto him in the presence of the Viscount de Gous- 
serant, his brother, and before the Lord d'Anchin of 
Bigorre, and divers other knights and squires, and 
he said it aloud, that every man might hear him, 
' Peter, I sent for you, and ye be come ; I will have 
ye know, that the Duke of Anjou willed me much 
evil, because of the garrison of Lourdes, which ye 
keep ; for the which cause my land was near being 
overrun, if it had not been for good friends ; and it 
is his opinion, and the opinion of divers other of his 



1 88 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

company, that the Duke hateth me, because, as they 
say, I maintain and sustain you, because ye be of 
Beam : and it is not meet for me to have the ill-wili 
of so great a prince as the Duke of Anjou is : where- 
fore I command you, as ye wish to eschew my dis- 
pleasure, and by the faith and Hneage that ye owe to 
me, that ye yield up the garrison of Lourdes into my 
hands.' 

" When the knight heard these words he was sore 
abashed, and studied a little, considering what answer 
he might make, for he saw well that the Earl spake 
in good earnest: howbeit, all things considered, he 
said, ' Sir, true it is I owe to you faith and homage, 
for I am a poor knight of your blood and of your 
country : but as for the castle of Lourdes, I will not 
deliver it to you. Ye have sent for me, to do with 
me as ye hst : I hold it of the King of England ; 
he set me there ; and to none other living will I 
deliver it. 

" When the Earl of Foix heard that answer, his 
blood chafed for ire, and he said, drawing out his 
dagger, ' Ha ! traitor, sayest thou nay ? by my head, 
thou hast not said that for nought ; ' and so there- 
with struck the knight, that he wounded him in five 
places, and there was no knight nor baron that durst 
step between them. 

" Then the knight said, ' Ah ! Sir, ye do me no 
gentleness, to send for me and slay me,' 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 189 

" And yet for all the strokes he had with the dag- 
ger, the Earl commanded to cast him in prison down 
into a deep dyke ; and so he was, and there died, 
for his wounds were but ill looked unto." 

"Ah! St. Mary!" quoth 1 to the knight, "was 
not this a great cruelty ? " 

" Whatsoever it was," quoth the knight, " thus 
it was. Let one consider well before he displeases 
him, for if he be angry, there is no pardon. He 
once held his cousin-german, the Viscount de Cha- 
tel-bon, who is his heir, eight months in the town of 
Orthes in prison, and afterwards ransomed him at 
forty thousand francs." 

" Why, Sir," quoth I, " hath the Earl of Foix no 
children ? " 

" No, truly, Sir," quoth he, " by any wife : but he 
hath two young knights that be his bastards, whom 
ye shall see ; and he loveth them as well as himself; 
they be called Sir Yvain and Sir Gracien." 

Then I demanded if ever he were married. 

" Yea, truly," quoth he, " and is yet ; but his wife 
is not with him." 

" Why, Sir, where is she ? " 

" Sir," quoth he, " she is in Navarre, for the King 
there is her brother : she was daughter to King 
Louis of Navarre." 

Then I demanded if ever the Earl had any lawful 
children. 



190 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" Yes, Sir," quoth he, " he had a fair son, who had 
the father's heart ; and all the country loved him, 
for by him all the country of Beam was in rest and 
peace, whereas it hath been since in debate and 
strife ; for he hath married the sister of the Earl of 
Armagnac." 

" Sir," quoth I, " what became of that son, if it 
may be known ? " 

" Sir," quoth he, " I shall shew you, but not now, 
for the matter is over long and we are near the town, 
as ye see." 

Therewith I left the knight in peace ; and so we 
came to Tarbes, and took our lodging at the Star, 
and there tarried all that day ; for it was a town of 
great easement, both for man and horse, with good 
hay and oats, and a fair river. 

How in journeying from Tarbes to Morlens the knight 
shewed Sir John Froissart of the beginning of the war 
that was between the Earl of Foix and the Earl of 
Armagnac 

The next day after Mass, we mounted a-horse- 
back, and departed from Tarbes and came to a town 
called Jorre, which valiantly always held against 
them of Lourdes ; and so we passed by the town 
without, and then entered into the country of 
Beam. 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 191 

Then the knight stood still and said, "Sir, behold 
here is Beam; " and we stood in a crossway. 

The knight considered which way to take, either 
to Morlens, or to Pau ; at last we took the way to 
Morlens, riding over the heaths of Beam, which 
were right level. 

Then I demanded of him if the town of Pau were 
near us, and he said " yes," and so he shewed me the 
steeple ; howbeit the distance was further off than it 
seemed, for it was an evil way to ride, because of 
the bogs, to them that knew not the country. And 
not far thence was the castle of Lourdes ; and I de- 
manded who was then captain there. He said that 
then the Seneschal of Bigorre was captain there, ad- 
mitted by the King of England, and brother to Sir 
Peter de Beam, " as ye have heard before." 

" That is true. Sir," quoth I ; " but did he never 
after go to see the Earl of Foix ? " 

He answered and said, " Since the death of his 
brother, he never came there, but others of his com- 
pany have been often with the Earl, such as Peter 
d'Anchin, Ernauton de Resten, Ernauton de Ste. 
Colombe and others." 

" Sir," quoth I, " hath the Earl of Foix made any 
amends for the death of that knight, or been sorry 
for his death ? " 

" Yes, truly. Sir," quoth he ; " he was right sorry 
for his death, but as for amends, I know of none, 



192 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

without it be by secret penance, masses or prayers : 
he hath with him the same knight's son, called John 
of Beam, a gracious squire, and the Earl loveth him 
right well." 

"Ah! Sir," quoth I, "the Duke of Anjou, who 
would so fain have the castle of Lourdes, ought to 
be well content with the Earl of Foix, when he slew 
such a knight, his own cousin, for to accomplish his 
desire." 

" By my faith, Sir," quoth he, " so he was ; for 
anon, after that the Duke came to the French King, 
the King sent into this country Sir Roger d'Espaign, 
and a president of the Parliament Chamber of 
Paris, and letters sealed, making mention how the 
King did give to the Earl of Foix the country of 
Bigorre during his life, to hold the same of the 
Crown of France. 

" The Earl thanked greatly the King, for the 
great love that he shewed him and for that great 
gift, without any request making : but for all that 
the said Sir Roger d'Espaign could do, say or shew, 
the Earl in no wise would take the gift ; but he 
took the castle of Malvoisin, because it was a free 
land ; for that castle, and the appurtenance, holdeth 
of no man but of God, and also anciently it pertained 
to the inheritance of the Earl. The French King, 
by the means of the Duke of Anjou, did give it 
him, and the Earl sware and promised to take it on 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 193 

a condition that he should never set man there 
that should do evil to the realm of France : and so 
he did ; for though such as were there feared as 
much the Englishmen as did any other French 
garrison in Gascony, yet the Bearnais durst not 
make raids into the country of Foix." 

All these matters that Sir Espaing du Lyon 
shewed me, right well contented me : and every 
night, as we were at our lodgings, I wrote ever all 
that I heard in the day, the better thereby to have 
it in remembrance, for writing is the best remem- 
brance that may be. 

And so we rode the same morning to Morlens ; 
but before we came there the knight shewed me 
how the peace was broken and made again between 
the Duke of Berry and the Earl of Foix, and by 
what means this peace was made and nourished. 

"Ah! St. Mary! Sir," quoth I, "how your 
words be to me right agreeable, for it hath done me 
great pleasure, all that ever ye have shewed me ; 
which shall not be lost, for it shall be put in remem- 
brance and chronicled, if God will send me the 
grace to return to the town of Valenciennes, where I 
was born: but, Sir, I am sore displeased of one thing." 

" What is that ? " quoth he. 

" I shall shew you : by my faith, that so high and 
valiant a prince as the Earl of Foix is, should be 
without lawful issue.'* 



194 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" Sir/' quoth the knight, " if he had one, as once 
he had, he should be the most joyous prince of the 
world, and so would be all the country." 

"Why, Sir," then quoth I, "is his land then 
without an heir ? " 

" Nay, Sir," quoth he, " the Viscount de Chatel- 
bon, his cousin-german, is his heir." 

" Is he a vaHant man in arms ? " quoth I. 

" Nay, by my faith. Sir," quoth he ; " and there- 
fore the Earl loveth him not, and thinketh to make 
his two bastard sons, who be right valiant, his heirs, 
and thinketh to marry them in a high lineage, for he 
hath gold and silver enough, whereby he thinketh 
to get them wives such as shall aid and strengthen 
them." 

" Sir," quoth I, " it may well be ; howbeit the 
thing is not reasonable, that bastards should be 
made heritors of land." 

"Wherefore not. Sir," quoth he, "if there lack 
good heirs ? See you not how the Spaniards have 
crowned Henry, a bastard, to be king, and also 
they of Portugal crowned a bastard to their king ? 
It hath been seen in the world in divers realms, 
that bastards by force have reigned : was not Will- 
iam the Conqueror bastard son to a Duke of 
Normandy ; and he conquered all England, and 
was king there, so that all the kings since are 
descended from him ? " 




The Young Earl of Armagnac on the March 



The Journey of Sir John Frolssart 195 

" Sir/' quoth I, " all this might well be ; there is 
nothing but what may befall ; but they of Arma- 
gnac are right strong, and so thereby this country 
shall be ever in war and strife : but. Sir, I pray you, 
shew me the just cause why the war first moved 
between them of Foix and Armagnac." 

" I will shew you," quoth the knight. " I assure 
you, it is a marvellous war, for, as they say, each of 
them has a right cause. Sir, anciently, about a 
hundred years past, there was a lord in Beam called 
Gaston, a right valiant man in arms, and he is 
buried in the church of the Freres Mineurs right 
solemnly at Orthes, and there ye may see what 
person he was of stature and of body : for in his 
lifetime his picture was made in metal, the which is 
yet there. 

" This Gaston, Lord of Beam, had two daugh- 
ters ; the eldest was married to the Earl of Arma- 
gnac that was then, and the youngest to the Earl of 
Foix, who then was nephew to the King of Aragon, 
and the Earl of Foix yet beareth his arms, for he is 
descended out of Aragon : his arms are paly, gold 
and gules : and so it fortuned that this Lord of 
Beam had a great war against the King of Spain 
that was then, who came through all Biscay with a 
great number of men of war to enter into Beam. 

" The Lord Gaston of Beam, when he was in- 
formed of his coming, he assembled people on all 



196 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

sides, wherever he might get men of war, and wrote 
letters to his two sons-in-law, the Earl of Armagnac 
and the Earl of Foix, that they should come to 
serve and aid him to defend his heritage. 

" These letters seen, the Earl of Foix, as soon as 
he might, assembled his people, and prayed all his 
friends so much, that he had a five hundred knights 
and squires armed, and two thousand varlets with 
spears, darts and shields, all a-foot; and so he came 
into the country of Beam to serve his father, who 
had of him great joy: and so all they passed the 
bridge over the river at Orthes, and lodged between 
Sauveterre and I'Hopital. And the King of Spain, 
who had twenty thousand men, was lodged not far 
thence: and there the Lord Gaston of Beam and 
the Earl of Foix tarried for the Earl of Armagnac, 
and thought ever that he would come, and so tar- 
ried for him three days; and on the fourth day the 
Earl of Armagnac sent his letters by a herald to 
the Lord Gaston of Beam, and sent him word how 
he could not come, and how he had nothing to do 
to bear arms for the country of Beam. 

" When the Lord Gaston heard those tidings of 
excusations, and saw how he should have none aid 
or support of the Earl of Armagnac, he was sore 
abashed, and demanded counsel of the Earl of Foix, 
and of the other barons of Beam, how they should 
maintain themselves. 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 197 

"'Sir/ quoth the Earl of Foix, 'since we be here 
assembled, let us go and fight with our enemies.' 

" This counsel was taken, then they ordained their 
people ; they were a twelve hundred men of arms 
and six thousand men a-foot. The Earl of Foix 
took the first battalion, and so came on the King 
of Spain, and set on his lodgings; and there was a 
great battle and a fierce, and more than ten thousand 
Spaniards slain ; and there the Earl of Foix took 
prisoners the King of Spain's son and his brother, 
and sent them to his father-in-law, the Lord Gaston 
of Beam, who was in the rear guard : and there the 
Spaniards were so discomfited, that the Earl of Foix 
chased them to the gates of St. Andero in Biscay ; and 
the King of Spain took refuge in an abbey and did 
on the vesture of a monk, or else he had been taken. 

" Then the Earl of Foix returned to the Lord 
Gaston of Beam, who made him good cheer, as it 
was reason he should, for he had saved his honour 
and kept his country of Beam (the which else was 
likely to have been lost), because of this battle and 
discomfiture that the Earl of Foix made on the 
Spaniards, and of the taking of the King's son and 
brother; and the Lord of Beam had peace with the 
Spaniards at his own will. 

" And when the Lord Gaston was returned to 
Orthes, there before all the barons of Foix and 
Beam that were then present, he said to his son of 



198 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

Foix, ' Fair son, ye are my true and faithful son ; 
ye have saved mine honour and my country. The 
Earl of Armagnac, who hath married mine eldest 
daughter, hath excused himself from this business, 
and would not come to defend mine heritage, 
wherein he should have part ; wherefore I say, 
that such part as he should have by reason of my 
daughter, he hath forfeited and lost it ; and here 
clearly I inherit you, my son of Foix, after my 
decease, of all the whole land, and to your heirs 
for ever ; and I desire, will and command, all my 
subjects to seal, accord and agree to the same.' 

" And all answered, how they were well content 
so to do. 

" Thus by this means, as I have shewed you, an- 
ciently the Earls of Foix became lords of the coun- 
try of Beam, and bare the war-cry, arms and name, 
and had the profit thereof Howbeit for all this, 
they of Armagnac thought not their own claim 
quit : this is the cause of the wars between Foix 
and Armagnac." 

" By my faith. Sir," then quoth I, " ye have well 
declared the matter ; I never heard it before, and 
now that I know it, I shall put it in perpetual 
memory, if God give me grace to return into my 
country. But, Sir, if I durst, I would fain demand 
of you one thing : by what incident the Earl of 
Foix's son died ^ " 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 



99 



Then the knight studied a Httle, and said, " Sir, 
the manner of his death is right piteous ; I will not 
speak thereof: when ye come to Orthes, ye shall 
find them that will shew you, if ye demand it." 

And then I held my peace, and we rode till we 
came to Morlens. 



Of the great virtuousness and liberality that was in the 
Earl of Foix, and the manner of the piteous death of 
Gaston, the Earl's son 

The next day we departed and rode to dinner to 
Montgeberel, and so to Ercie, and there we drank : 
and by sun-setting we came to Orthes. The knight 
alighted at his own lodging, and I alighted at the 
Moon, where dwelt a squire of the Earl's, Ernau- 
ton du Pin, who well received me because I was of 
France. 

Sir Espaing du Lyon went to the castle to the 
Earl, and found him in his gallery, for he had but 
dined a little before : for the Earl's usage was al- 
ways, that it was high noon before he arose out of 
his bed, and he supped ever at midnight. The 
knight shewed him how I was come thither, and 
immediately I was sent for to my lodgings ; for he 
was the lord of all the world that most desired to 
speak with strangers to hear tidings. 

When the Earl saw me, he made me good cheer. 



200 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

and retained me as of his house, where I was more 
than twelve weeks, and my horse well entreated. 
The acquaintance of him and of me was because I 
had brought with me a book, which I made at the 
desire of Wenceslaus of Bohemia, Duke of Luxem- 
bourg and of Brabant ; which book was called " Le 
Meliador," containing all the songs, ballades, ron- 
deaux and virelays which the gentle Duke had 
made in his time, which by imagination I had gath- 
ered together ; which book the Earl of Foix was 
glad to see ; and every night after supper I read 
thereon to him, and while I read there was none 
durst speak any word, because he wished that I 
should be well understood, and therein he took 
great solace. And when it came to any matter of 
question then he would speak to me, not in Gascon, 
but in good and fair French. 

And of his estate and house I shall somewhat 
record, for I tarried there so long, that I might 
well perceive and know much. 

This Earl Gaston of Foix, with whom I was, at 
that time he was of a fifty and nine years of age ; 
and I say I have in my time seen many knights, 
kings, princes and others, but I never saw none 
like him of personage, nor of so fair form, nor so 
well made ; his visage fair, sanguine and smiling ; 
his eyes grey and kind, where he listed to set his 
regard ; in everything he was so perfect that he 




Froissart received by Gaston, Earl of Foix 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 201 

cannot be praised too much : he loved that which 
ought to be beloved, and hated that which ought to 
be hated ; he was a wise knight, of high enterprise 
and of good counsel : he never had miscreant with 
him : he said many orisons every day, a nocturne 
of the psalter, matins of Our Lady, of the Holy 
Ghost, and of the Cross, and Dirige : every day, he 
gave five florins in small money at his gate to poor 
folks, for the love of God : he was large and cour- 
teous in his gifts : he could right well take where it 
pertained to him, and deliver again where he ought : 
he loved hounds above all beasts ; winter and sum- 
mer he loved hunting : he never loved folly, out- 
rage nor foolish extravagance ; every month he 
would know what he spended. 

He took in his country, to receive his revenues, 
and to serve him, notable persons, that is to say, 
twelve receivers, and ever from two months to two 
months, two of them should serve for his receipt ; 
for at the two months' end he would change, and 
put other two into that oflice, and one that he 
trusted best should be his comptroller to whom all 
others should account, and the comptroller should 
account to him by rolls and books written, and the 
accounts to remain still with the Earl : he had cer- 
tain coffers in his chamber, out of which ofttimes he 
would take money to give to lords, knights and 
squires, such as came to him ; for none should 



202 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

depart from him without some gift ; and yet daily 
he multiplied his treasure to resist the accidents and 
chances that he doubted. 

He was of good and easy acquaintance with every 
man, and kindly would speak to them : he was 
short in counsel and answers ; he had four secreta- 
ries, and at his rising they must ever be ready at his 
hand without any calling : and when any letter were 
delivered him, and he had read it, then he would 
call them to write again, or else for some other 
thing. 

In this estate the Earl of Foix lived. And at 
midnight when he came out of his chamber into the 
hall to supper, he had ever before him twelve 
torches burning, borne by twelve servants standing 
before his table all supper : they gave a great light, 
and the hall was ever full of knights and squires, 
and there were many other tables, dressed to sup 
who would : there was none should speak to him at 
his table, but if he were called : his meat was, by 
custom, wild-fowl, the legs and wings only, and in 
the day he did but little eat and drink : he had 
great pleasure in harmony of instruments ; he could 
do it right well himself; he would have songs sung 
before him : he would gladly see conceits and fanci- 
ful dishes at his table, and when he had seen them, 
then he would send them to the other tables. 

Briefly, and all this marked and considered, I 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 203 

say that before I came to his court, I had been in 
many courts of kings, dukes, princes, earls and great 
ladies, but I was never in none that so well liked 
me, nor there was none that more rejoiced in deeds 
of arms than the Earl did : there was seen in his 
hall, chamber and court, knights and squires of 
honour going up and down, and talking of arms and 
of love ; all honour there was found, all manner of 
tidings of every realm and country there might be 
heard, for out of every country there was resort, 
because of the valiantness of this Earl. 

There I was informed of the most part of the 
deeds of arms that were done in Spain, in Portugal, 
in Aragon, in Navarre, in England, and in Scotland, 
and in the frontiers of Languedoc, for I saw come 
thither to the Earl, while I was there, knights and 
squires of all nations, and so I was informed by 
them, and by the Earl himself, of all things that I 
demanded : there I inquired how Gaston the Earl's 
son died, for Sir Espaing du Lyon would not shew 
me anything thereof: and so much I inquired, that 
an ancient squire and a notable man shewed the 
matter to me, and began thus : — 

"True it is," quoth he, "that the Earl of Foix, 
and my lady of Foix his wife, agree not well to- 
gether, nor have not done for a long season ; and 
the discord between them was first moved by the 
King of Navarre, who was brother to the lady ; for 



204 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

the King of Navarre pledged himself as surety for 
the Lord d'Albret, whom the Earl of Foix had in 
prison, for the sum of fifty thousand francs; and 
the Earl of Foix, who knew that the King of Na- 
varre was crafty and malicious, in the beginning 
would not trust him, wherewith the Countess of 
Foix had great displeasure and indignation against 
the Earl her husband, and said to him: — 

"' Sir, ve repute but small honour in the King of 
Navarre my brother, when ye will not trust him 
for fifty thousand francs : even though ye get no 
more from the Armagnacs nor from the Labrissiens, 
than ye have, it ought to suffice : and also. Sir, ye 
know that ye ought to assign over my dower, which 
mounteth to fifty thousand francs, which ye should 
put into the hands of my brother, the King of 
Navarre; wherefore. Sir, ye cannot be ill paid.' 

" ' Dame,' quoth he, ' ye say truth ; but if I 
thought that the King of Navarre would stop the 
payment for that cause, the Lord d'Albret should 
never go out of Orthes, and so I should be paid to 
the last penny : but since ye desire it, I will do it, 
not for the love of you, but for the love of my son.' 

" So by these words, and by the King of Navarre's 
obligation, who became debtor to the Earl of Foix, 
the Lord d'Albret was delivered quit, and became 
French and was married in France to the sister of 
the Duke of Bourbon ; and paid at his ease to the 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 205 

King of Navarre the sum of fifty thousand francs for 
his ransom, for the which sum the King was bound 
to the Earl of Foix, but he would not send it to the 
Earl. 

" Then the Earl of Foix said to his wife, ' Dame, 
ye must go into Navarre to the King your brother, 
and shew him how I am not well content with him, 
in that he will not send me that which he hath re- 
ceived of mine.' 

" The lady answered, how she was ready to go at 
his commandment ; and so she departed, and rode 
to Pampeluna, to the King her brother, who received 
her with much joy. 

" The lady did her message from point to point : 
then the King answered, ' Fair sister, the sum of 
money is yours, the Earl should give it for your 
dower ; it shall never go out of the realm of Na- 
varre, since I have it in possession.' 

" ' Ah ! Sir,' quoth the lady, ' by this ye shall 
set great hate between the Earl my husband and 
you, and if ye hold your purpose, I dare not return 
again into the country of Foix, for my husband will 
slay me ; he will say I have deceived him.' 

" ' I cannot tell,' quoth the King, ' what ye will do, 
either tarry or depart ; but as for the money, I will 
not depart from it ; it pertaineth to me to keep it 
for you, but it shall never go out of Navarre.' 

" The Countess could have no other answer of the 



2o6 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

King her brother, and so she tarried still in Navarre, 
and durst not return again. 

" The Earl of Foix, when he saw the dealing of 
the King of Navarre, he began to hate his wife, and 
was ill content with her : howbeit she was in no 
fault, but that she returned not again, when she had 
done her message : but she durst not, for she knew 
well the Earl her husband was cruel where he took 
displeasure: thus the matter standeth. 

"The Earl's son, called Gaston, grew and waxed 
goodly, and was married to the daughter of the Earl 
of Armagnac, a fair lady, sister to the Earl that now 
is, the Lord Bertrand of Armagnac ; and by the con- 
junction of that marriage there should have been 
peace between Foix and Armagnac ; the boy was a 
fifteen or sixteen year of age, and resembled right 
well to his father. 

" On a time he desired to go into Navarre, to see 
his mother and his uncle the King of Navarre, which 
was in an evil hour for him and for all this country. 
When he was come into Navarre he had there good 
cheer, and tarried with his mother a certain space, 
and then took his leave : but for all that he could 
do, he could not get his mother out of Navarre, to 
have gone with him into Foix for she demanded if 
the Earl had commanded him so to do or no ; and 
he answered that when he departed, the Earl spake 
nothing thereof; therefore the lady durst not go 
thither, but so tarried still. 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 207 

" Then the boy went to Pampeluna to take his 
leave of the King his uncle ; the King made him 
great cheer, and kept him there a ten days, and 
gave him great gifts, and to his men : also the last 
gift that the King gave him was his death : I shall 
shew you how. 

"When this gentleman should depart, the King 
drew him apart into his chamber and gave him a 
little purse full of powder, which powder was such, 
that if any creature living did eat thereof, he should 
instantly die, without remedy ; then the King 
said, ' Gaston, fair nephew, ye shall do as I shall 
shew to you ; ye see how the Earl of Foix your 
father wrongfully hath your mother my sister in 
great hate, whereof I am sore displeased, and so 
ought you to be : howbeit, to perform all the matter, 
and that your father should love again your mother, 
to that intent ye shall take a little of this powder, 
and put it on some meat that your father may eat it, 
but beware that no man see you : and as soon as he 
hath eaten it, he shall desire nothing but to have 
back his wife, and so to love her ever after, which ye 
ought greatly to desire : and of this that I shew you, 
let no man know, but keep it secret, or else ye lose 
all the deed.' 

" The boy, who thought all the King said to him 
had been true, said, ' Sir, it shall be done as ye have 
devised,' and so departed from Pampeluna and re- 



2o8 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

turned to Orthes. The Earl his father made him 
good cheer, and demanded tidings of the King of 
Navarre, and what gifts he had given him ; and 
the boy shewed how he had given him divers, 
and shewed him all, except the purse with the 
powder. 

" Ofttimes this young Gaston and Yvain his bas- 
tard brother slept together, for they loved together 
like brethren, and were like arrayed and apparelled, 
for they were near of a greatness, and of one age: 
and it happened on a time, as their clothes lay to- 
gether on their beds, Yvain saw a purse in Gaston's 
coat and said, ' What thing is this, that ye bear 
ever about you ? ' Whereof Gaston had no joy and 
said, ' Yvain, give me my coat, ye have nothing to 
do therewith.' And all that day after Gaston was 
pensive. 

" And it fortuned a three days after, as God would 
that the Earl should be saved, Gaston and his 
brother Yvain fell out together, playing at tennis ; 
and Gaston gave him a blow, and the boy went into 
his father's chamber and wept, and the Earl had but 
then heard Mass ; and when the Earl saw him weep, 
he said, * Son Yvain, what ailest thou ? ' 

" ' Sir,' quoth he, * Gaston hath beaten me, but he 
were more worthy to be beaten than I.' 

«' ' Why so ? ' quoth the Earl, and instantly sus- 
pected something. 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 109 

" ' By my faith, Sir,' quoth he, ^ since he returned 
out of Navarre, he beareth privily at his breast a 
purse full of powder. 1 wot not what it is, nor 
what he will do therewith, but he hath said to me 
once or twice that my lady his mother should 
shortly be again in your grace, and better beloved 
than ever she was.' 

" ' Peace,' quoth the Earl, ' and speak no more ; 
and shew this to no man living.' 

"'Sir,' quoth he, Sio more I shall.' 

" Then the Earl entered into a study of imagina- 
tion, and so came to the hour of his dinner, and 
washed and sat down at his table in the hall. 

" Gaston his son was used to set down all his 
service, and to make trial of all the dishes ; and 
when he had set down the first course, the Earl cast 
his eyes on him, and saw the strings of the purse 
hanging at his bosom : then his blood changed and 
he said, * Gaston, come hither, I will speak with thee 
in thine ear.' 

" The boy came to him, and the Earl took him by 
the bosom and found out the purse, and with his 
knife cut it from his bosom ; the boy was abashed 
and stood still, and spake no word, and looked as 
pale as ashes for fear, and began to tremble. The 
Earl of Foix opened the purse and took of the 
powder, and laid it on a trencher of bread, and 
called to him a dog, and gave it him to eat ; and as 



2IO The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

soon as the dog had eaten the first morsel, he turned 
his eyes in his head and died incontinent. 

" And when the Earl saw that, he was sore dis- 
pleased: and also he had good cause: and so he 
rose from the table and took his knife and would 
have stricken his son : then the knights and squires 
ran between them and said, ' Sir, for God's sake have 
mercy, and be not so hasty : be well informed first 
of the matter, before ye do any evil to your child.' 

" And the first word that the Earl said was, * Ha ! 
Gaston, traitor, for to increase thine heritage that 
should come to thee, I have had war and hatred of 
the French King, of the King of England, of the 
King of Spain, of the King of Navarre and of the 
King of Aragon, and as yet, I have borne all their 
malice; and now thou wouldest murder me; it 
moveth of an evil nature : but first thou shalt die 
with this stroke ; ' and so stepped forth with his 
knife and would have slain him. 

" But then all the knights and squires kneeled 
down before him weeping and said, ' Ah, Sir, have 
mercy for God's sake ; slay not Gaston your son ; 
remember ye have no more children : Sir, cause him 
to be guarded, and take good information of the 
matter ; peradventure he knew not what he bare, 
and peradventure he is nothing guilty of the 
deed.' 

" ' Well,' quoth the Earl, ' put him instantly in 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart an 

prison, and let him be so kept that I may have a 
reckoning of him.' 

" Then the boy was put into the tower ; and the 
Earl took a great many of them that served his son ; 
and some of them fled, and the Bishop of Lescar is 
yet at Pau, out of the country, for he was had in 
suspicion, and so were divers others. The Earl 
caused a fifteen to be put to death right horribly, 
and the cause that the Earl laid to them was, he 
said, that it could be none otherwise but that they 
knew of the boy's secrets ; wherefore they ought to 
have shewed it to him, and to have said, ' Sir, Gas- 
ton your son beareth a purse at his bosom.' Be- 
cause they did not this, they died horribly ; whereof 
it was great pity, for some of them were as fresh 
and as jolly squires as were any in all the country, 
for ever the Earl was served with good men. 

"This thing touched the Earl near to the heart; 
and that he well shewed ; for on a day he assembled 
at Orthes all the nobles and prelates of Foix and of 
Beam, and all the notable persons of his country : 
and when they were all assembled, he shewed them 
wherefore he sent for them, and how he had found 
his son in this default ; for the which he said his 
intent was to put him to death as he had well de- 
served. 

" Then all the people answered to that case with 
one voice and said, * Sir, saving your grace, we will 



212 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

not that Gaston should die ; he is your heir, and ye 
have no more.' 

" And when the Earl heard the people how they 
entreated for his son, he somewhat refrained his ire : 
then he thought to chastise him in prison a month 
or two, and then to send him on some voyage for 
two or three years, till he might somewhat forget 
his ill-will, and that the boy might be of greater age 
and of more knowledge. 

" Then he gave leave to all the people to depart : 
but they of Foix would not depart from Orthes 
till the Earl should assure them that Gaston should 
not die ; they loved the boy so well : then the Earl 
promised them ; but he said he would keep him in 
prison a certain space to chastise him : and so upon 
this promise every man departed, and Gaston abode 
still in prison. 

"These tidings spread abroad into divers places, 
and at that time Pope Gregory the Eleventh was at 
Avignon. Then he sent the Cardinal of Amiens in 
legation into Beam to have come to the Earl of 
Foix for that business, and by the time that he 
came to Beziers, he heard such tidings, that he 
needed not to go any further for that matter, for 
there he heard how Gaston, son to the Earl of Foix, 
was dead. Since I have shewed you so much, now 
shall I shew you how he died. 

" The Earl of Foix caused his son to be kept in 



The Journey of Sir John Frolssart 213 

a dark chamber in the tower of Orthes, a ten days : 
little did he eat or drink : yet he had enough 
brought him every day, but when he saw it he 
would go therefrom and set little store thereby : and 
some said that all the meat that had been brought 
him stood whole and entire the day of his death ; 
wherefore it was great marvel that he lived so long, 
for divers reasons. The Earl caused him to be 
kept in the chamber alone, without any company 
either to counsel or comfort him ; and all that sea- 
son the boy lay in his clothes, as he came in : and 
he argued in himself and was full of melancholy, 
and cursed the time that ever he was born, to come 
to such an end. 

" The same day that he died, they that served 
him with meat and drink, when they came to him, 
they said, ' Gaston, here is meat for you.' He 
made no care thereof and said, ' Set it down there.' 

" He that served him looked and saw in the 
prison all the meat standing whole as it had been 
brought him before ; and so departed, and closed 
the chamber door, and went to the Earl and said : 
' Sir, for God's sake have mercy on your son Gas- 
ton, for he is near famished in prison : there he 
lieth, and I think he never did eat anything since 
he came into prison, for I have seen there this day 
all that ever I brought him before, lying together 
in a corner.' 



214 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

" Of those words the Earl was sore displeased, 
and without any word speaking, went out of his 
chamber and came to the prison where his son was : 
and in an evil hour he had at the same time a little 
knife in his hand to pare withal his nails. 

" He opened the prison door, and came to his 
son, and had the little knife in his hand, not an 
inch out of his hand, and in great displeasure he 
thrust his hand to his son's throat, and the point of 
the knife a little entered into his throat, into a 
certain vein. And he said, ' Ha ! traitor, why dost 
not thou eat thy meat ? ' And therewith the Earl 
departed without any more doing or saying, and 
went into his own chamber. 

" The boy was abashed, and afraid of the coming of 
his father, and also was feeble from fasting, and the 
point of the knife a little entered into a vein of his 
throat, and so he fell down suddenly and died. 

" The Earl was scant in his chamber, when the 
keeper of the boy came to him and said, ' Sir, 
Gaston your son is dead.' 

" ' Dead ? ' saith the Earl. 

" ' Yea, truly. Sir,' said he. 

" The Earl would not believe it, but sent thither 
a squire that was by him ; and he went and came 
again and said, ' Sir, surely he is dead.' 

" Then the Earl was sore displeased, and made 
great complaint for his son, and said, ^ Ah, Gaston, 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 215 

what a poor adventure is this for thee and for me ! 
In an evil hour thou wentest to Navarre to see thy 
mother : I shall never have the joy that I had 
before.' 

" Then the Earl caused his barber to shave his 
head, and clothed himself in black, and all his house, 
and with much sore weeping the boy was borne to 
the church of the Freres in Orthes, and there 
buried. 

" Thus, as I have shewed you, the Earl of Foix 
slew Gaston his son, but the King of Navarre gave 
the occasion of his death." 



Of the State or Ordinance of the Earl of Foix 

When I had heard this tale of the death of Gas- 
ton, son to the Earl of Foix, I had great pity thereof 
for the love of the Earl his father, whom I found 
a lord of high recommendation, noble, liberal and 
courteous ; and also for love of the country, that 
should be in great strife for lack of an heir. 

Then I thanked the squire and departed from 
him, but afterwards I saw him divers times in the 
Earl's house, and talked oftentimes with him. 

Of the state and order of the Earl of Foix cannot 
be too much spoken nor praised; for the season 
that I was at Orthes I found him such, and much 
more than I can speak of: and while I was there I 



21 6 The Journey of Sir John Froissart 

saw and heard many things that turned me to great 
pleasure. 

I saw on a Christmas Day, sitting at his board, 
four Bishops of his country, two Clementines and 
two Urbanists : the Bishop of Pamiers and the 
Bishop of Lescar, Clementines, they sat highest, then 
the Bishop of Ayre and the Bishop of Rou, Urban- 
ists ; then sat the Earl of Foix, and then the Vis- 
count de Roquebertin of Gascony, the Viscount 
de Bruniquel, the Viscount of Gousserant, and a 
knight of England, of the Duke of Lancaster's, who 
was then at Narbonne : the knight was called Sir 
William Willoughby ; the Duke had sent him 
thither. And at another table sat five abbots and 
two knights of Aragon, called Sir Raymond de 
Montflorentin and Sir Martin de Ruane. And at 
another table sat knights and squires of Gascony 
and of Bigorre : first the Lord d'Anchin, then Sir 
Gaillard de la Motte, Sir Raymond de Chateau- 
neuf, the Lord de Chaumont, Gascons, the Lord of 
Copaire, the Lord de la Lanne, the Lord de Mont- 
ferrant. Sir William Bernard, Sir Peter Courton, 
the Lord de Valenchin and Sir Aingalle, sur- 
named Le Basele ; and at other tables knights of 
Beam, a great number. The chief stewards of the 
hall were Sir Espaing du Lyon, Sir Siquart de 
Bois Verdun, Sir Mouvant de Noailles, and Sir 
Peter de Vaux of Beam : and the Earl's two bastard 



The Journey of Sir John Froissart 217 

brethren served at the table, Sir Ernauton Guillaume, 
and Sir Peter de Beam : and so did also the Earl's 
two sons; Sir Yvain de TEschelle was sewer and 
Sir Gracien bare his cup. And there were many 
minstrels, as well of his own as of strangers : and 
each of them did their devoir in their faculties. 

The same day the Earl gave to heralds and min- 
strels the sum of five hundred francs, and gave to 
the Duke of Touraine's minstrels gowns of cloth 
of gold furred with ermine, valued at two hundred 
francs. This dinner endured four hours. 

Thus I am glad to speak of the Earl of Foix, for 
I was there in his house a twelve weeks, and well 
entreated in all things : and while I was there I 
might learn and hear tidings of all countries : and 
also the gentle knight. Sir Espaing du Lyon, in 
whose company I entered into the country, he 
caused me to be acquainted with knights and squires, 
such as could declare to me anything that I could 
demand. 



THE BATTLE OF ALJUBAROTA 



( 



VII. THE BATTLE OF ALJUBAROTA 

How for the war that was between them, the King of 
Castile had aid out of France, and the King of Portugal 
out of England 

KING DON JOHN of Castile being at siege 
before Lisbon, wherein was the King John 
of Portugal, tidings came into his host how 
the Duke of Lancaster, with a great number of men 
of war, was coming thitherward to raise the siege. 

Then the King of Castile sent messengers and 
letters to have aid out of France, and specially he 
sent into the country of Beam, and into the land 
of the Earl of Foix ; and out of Beam there issued, 
in a four days' respite, three hundred spears of chosen 
men of arms : and it was shewed me by them that 
saw them depart from Orthes, how that they were 
the best armed and appointed company that went 
out of Beam for many a day before. 

The Earl of Foix was angry and sorrowful of their 
departing, for he saw well that his country was sore 
feebled thereby: then he sent Sir Espaing du Lyon 
and Sir Peter Cabestan to these lords, knights and 
squires, desiring them to come together to his castle 



222 The Battle of Aljubarota 

of Orthes, to the intent to give them a dinner to 
their farewell. There they had a great dinner at 
great leisure, and were served with everything that 
to such a day pertained. 

And after dinner the Earl led with him all this 
company into the gallery : then he entered into 
communing with them and said, " Fair lords and 
friends, it shall grieve me to see your departing out 
of my country ; not for that I am displeased with 
your advancements and honours, for in all cases I 
would gladly augment and exalt your honour and 
profit : but I have great pity of you, for ye are the 
chief flower of chivalry of my country of Beam, and 
ye thus go into a strange country. I would counsel 
you yet again to leave this voyage, and to let the 
King of Castile and the King of Portugal make their 
war between themselves : for ye are not bound to 
do otherwise." 

" Sir," quoth they, " saving your displeasure, we 
cannot do thus : and. Sir, ye know more than ye 
speak of; we have taken wages and gifts of the King 
of Castile, wherefore we must needs deserve them." 

" Well," quoth the Earl, " ye speak well ; but I 
shall shew you what shall come of this voyage ; 
either ye shall return poor and naked, or else ye 
shall be all slain or taken." 

The knights began to laugh and said, " Sir, we 
must abide the adventure." 



The Battle of Aljubarota 223 

Then the Earl fell in other talking, and left that 
in rest ; and then he demanded for wine and spice, 
and he made every man drink, and then took every 
man by the hand, and bade them farewell, and de- 
parted from them and went into his chamber. And 
at the foot of the castle the knights mounted on 
their horses, and so rode away. 

In the mean season the King of Castile left the 
siege of Lisbon, and came to Santarem, and lodged 
at the castle called the Lion, and his men in the 
town, as many as might, and in the villages there- 
about ; and there came to him the Gascons of Beam 
with a fair company. 

And so it was, that the same week that the King 
of Castile departed from the siege of Lisbon, three 
great ships of men of war and English archers 
arrived at Lisbon. They were to the number of 
five hundred, one and other, and a third part of 
them were of the Companions Adventurers, having 
no wages of no man : they had heard of the war 
between Castile and Portugal, and they came to 
Bordeaux, and there assembled and said, " Let us 
go at adventure into Portugal ; we shall find them 
there that will receive us and set us a-work." Sir 
John Harpedane, who was then marshal of Bor- 
deaux, counselled them greatly thereto, for he 
would not that they should abide in Bordeaux, 
for they might there have done more hurt than 



2 24 ^^^ Battle of Aljubarota 

good, because they were Companions Adventurers, 
and had nothing to lose. 

Of them that arrived at Lisbon, I cannot name 
all ; there were three English squires that were their 
captains ; one was called Northberry, and another 
Morberry, and the third Huguelin de Hartsel : 
there were none of them past the age of fifty year, 
and they were good men of arms, and well used in 
the feats of war. 

Of the coming of these Englishmen they of Lis- 
bon were right glad, and so was the King of Portu- 
gal, who wished to see them : and so they went to 
the palace, where the King was. He made them 
great cheer, and demanded of them if the Duke of 
Lancaster had sent them thither. 

" Sir," quoth Northberry, " it is a long season 
since he had any knowledge of us, or we of him ; 
Sir, we be men of divers sorts, seeking for adven- 
tures." 

" By my faith," quoth the King, " you are right 
heartily welcome. Your coming doth me great good 
and joy, and shortly I shall set you a-work." 

" Sir," quoth they, " we desire nothing else ; and. 
Sir, we desire you that shortly we may see your 
enemies." The King made them a dinner in his 
palace at Lisbon, and commanded that they should 
all be lodged in the city at their ease, and be paid 
for their wages for three months. 



The Battle of Aljubarota 225 

Then the King set his clerks a-work, and made 
letters and sent them over all his realm, command- 
ing every man able to bear harness to draw to Lis- 
bon. And then it was ordained that within three 
days every man should draw into the fields, and 
take some ground there to abide their enemies ; 
those three days they kept the gates of Lisbon so 
close, that neither man nor woman could issue out ; 
for they would not that their enemies should hear 
of their intention. 

And when the Englishmen that were there un- 
derstood that they should issue out and draw towards 
Santarem to look on their enemies, they were joy- 
ful : then every man made him ready, and the 
archers dressed ready their bows and arrows, and on 
a Thursday they departed out of Lisbon ; and on 
the Friday in the morning, they sounded their 
trumpets and made them ready, and took the way 
on the right hand, following the river and the plain 
country, and so rode that day four leagues. 

That day tidings came to the King of Castile, 
where he lay at Santarem, that the Portuguese were 
coming towards him. Then it was ordained and 
published in the host, that on the Saturday, in the 
morning, every man, a-foot and a-horseback, should 
issue out of Santarem, and draw towards their ene- 
mies, to fight with them : every man made him ready, 
and was joyful of that journey. And on the Saturday 



226 The Battle of Aljubarota 

in the morning they sounded their trumpets, and 
the King heard Mass in the castle, and drank, and 
then leapt on his horse, and every man with him, 
and so drew into the field in good array of battle. 

Of the English and Portuguese, how they ordered themselves 
and their battalion 

On the other side, the King of Portugal had sent 
forth three scouts to view the demeanour of the 
Spaniards : two of them were English squires, ex- 
pert men of arms, one called James Hartlebury, and 
the other Philip Bradestan ; and with them Fer- 
nando de la Gresse, of Portugal. They were all 
well horsed, and rode forth till they came to a little 
hill ; and there they might well see the behaving 
of the Spaniards ; then they returned to the King of 
Portugal and said, " Sir, we have been so far forward 
that we have seen your enemies : Sir, surely they be 
a great number, they are well a thirty thousand 
horse ; therefore, Sir, take your advice." 

Then the King turned him towards his people and 
said aloud, " Sirs, now advise you well, for there 
needeth now no cowardice, for we shall fight shortly ; 
think. Sirs, to do well, and let us sell our lives dear, 
and of one thing be ye sure : I shall not fly, but abide 
the adventure with you." Then they all answered, 
" With a good will, so be it ; and we shall all abide 
with you." 



The Battle of Aljubarota 227 

Then the EngHsh captains were called forth, 
Northberry and Hartsel, and others of them that 
were most expert in arms : the King demanded of 
them what counsel they would give him, how to 
abide the adventure of the battle, for his enemies 
approached fast, " and they be in number four 
against one of us." 

Then the Englishmen said, " Sir, since we shall 
have battle, and they be greater in number than we 
be, wherefore it is a hard match, we cannot conquer 
without we take some advantage of some hedges or 
bushes : let us take such a ground as we may fortify, 
so that they may not enter upon us so lightly as 
they should do upon the plain field." 

" Sirs," quoth the King, " ye speak wisely, and it 
shall be as ye have devised." 

Not far off from them was the town of Aljubarota, 
a great village: thither the men of Lisbon had sent 
all their provision and waggons, for it was their in- 
tention that night to lodge there, whether they had 
battle or no, if they might scape with honour : and 
without the town there was a great abbey of monks, 
and the church standeth a little out of the road, in a 
moat, environed about with great trees, hedges and 
bushes : it was a strong place, with a little help. 

Then the Englishmen were again called to counsel 
to the King, for though they were but few, yet the 
King would follow much their advice. Then they 



228 The Battle of Aljubarota 

said, " Sir, we know hereby a place, the minster out- 
side Aljubarota, among the trees ; it standeth in a 
strong place, with a little amendment and help:'* 
and such as knew the country said, " Sir, it is true." 

Then the King said, " Let us draw thither, and let 
us order there ourselves as men of war ought to do." 

Then on the side next the fields they cut down 
the trees and laid them one over another, to the 
intent that horsemen should not come Vv^ith full 
course on them ; they left one way open, not very 
large, and such archers and crossbows as they had, 
they set them on every side of the way, and their 
men of arms all a-foot on the level inside the way, 
with the church on their one side ; and there the 
King's banners were pitched. And when they had 
thus ordered everything they were in great joy, and 
said that, if it pleased God, they were well, and in 
such a place as to keep it long and to make a good 
day's work. 

Then there were two knights ordained to go and 
search every company, and to demand if any were 
abashed to abide the battle. The messengers re- 
ported to the King that they could find no man but 
was ready to abide the adventure of battle. 

" It is so much the better," quoth the King. 

Then the King caused all that would be made 
knights to come before him, and he would give 
them the order of knighthood, in the name of God 



The Battle of Aljubarota 229 

and of St. George. And as I understand, there 
were made a threescore new knights ; whereof the 
King had great joy, and did set them in the front 
of the battaHon, and said to them, " Sirs, the order 
of knighthood is as noble and high as any heart can 
think ; and there is no knight that ought to be a 
coward or shameful, but when his helm is on his 
head and he seeth his enemies, he ought to be 
fierce and hardy as a lion ; and because I would ye 
should this day shew prowess where it ought to be 
shewed, therefore I ordain you in the first front of 
the battle ; and. Sirs, do so that we may have honour, 
and ye also ; otherwise your spurs are but ill set on." 
And every knight answered as his turn fell, as he 
passed by the King, " Sir, with the pleasure of God 
we shall so do, to have your grace and love." 



Of the Spaniards, how they ordered themselves and their 
battalions 

Now let us return to the King Don John of 
Castile, and the knights and squires of France and 
of Gascony, who were there with him. 

Such as they had sent to view their enemies re- 
turned again and said, " Sir King, we have ridden 
so far forward that we have seen our enemies, and 
according as we can judge, they be not past ten 
thousand men in all ; and they be about the minster 



230 The Battle of Aljubarota 

of Aljubarota, set in order of battle, and there they 
shall be found, whosoever will seek for them." 

Then the King called to him his council, and 
especially the barons and knights of France, and 
demanded of them what was best to do. 

The Frenchmen said, " Sir, we think it were best 
let them be fought withal immediately." 

Then the King demanded of them of his own 
country their opinions : they answered and said, " Sir, 
we have well heard the knights of France, how they 
would have you hotly to set on your enemies ; but 
before we come to them it will be night, for ye see 
the sun draweth downward, and as vet ve have not 
ordered your battalions ; Sir, therefore we think it 
were good ve tarried till the morning, for they can- 
not fly nor scape us." 

Then the King stood still a little and cast down 
his look to the earth, and afterwards he turned his 
regard on the strangers. Then the marshal. Sir 
Reginald de Limousin, said, to please the French- 
men, turning himself to the Spaniards, " Sirs, how 
can ve be more sage in battles, or more used in 
arms,' than these valiant knights be that be here 
present ? How can ye devise anything beyond 
them ? for thev have done nothing else all their 
life-days but travel from realm to realm to find and 
to do deeds of arms. How can you or durst you 
devise anything against their words, which are so 



The Battle of Aljubarota 231 

noble and so high ? I see no better way for you 
than to be still, and let them alone that have seen 
more than you in such businesses : for ye never saw 
what they have done, nor never shall." 

Then the King looked up, and by seeming was 
glad with those words, and the Spaniards were 
abashed, and every man was still, and the King 
said, " I will, in the name of God and St. James, 
that our enemies be fought withal : and all such as 
will be made knights to come forth before me ; for 
I will give the order of knighthood, in the honour 
of God and St. George." 

Then there came forth many squires of France 
and of Beam, and there they were made knights of 
the King's hand, to the number of a hundred and 
forty. There might have been seen among these 
new knights great nobleness, and they maintained 
themselves so goodly, that it was pleasure to behold 
them, for they were a fair battalion. 

Then the strangers came before the King and 
said, " Sir, we be come from far parts to serve you : 
Sir, we entreat you do us that grace to let us have 
the first battalion." 

" I am content," quoth the King, " in the name 
of God and St. James, and St. George be in your 
aid." 

Then the Spaniards said one to another softly, 
" Behold, for God's sake behold, how our King 



232 The Battle of Aljubarota 

putteth all his trust in these Frenchmen : they shall 
have the first battalion : they praise us not so much 
that they will take us with them ; let it be so, we 
are content, but it were good we demanded of the 
King, whether he will abide with us, or else go with 
the Frenchmen." 

Then six of the most notablest of them went to 
the King and inclined themselves and said, " Right 
noble King, we see and understand well that this 
day ye shall have battle with your enemies : Goa 
send grace that it be to your honour and victory., 
as we greatly desire. Sir, we would know whether 
your pleasure lieth, to be among the Frenchmen, or 
else with us ? " 

" Fair Sirs," quoth the King, " though I have 
granted the first battalion to these knights and 
squires strangers, who are come from far off to serve 
me, and are valiant and expert men in wars, yet for 
all that I renounce you not, for I will be and abide 
among you : therefore. Sirs, help to defend me." 

Of this answer the Spaniards had great joy, and 
were well contented and said, " Sir, so shall we do, 
and shall not fail to die in the quarrel ; for we are 
sworn to you, by the faith of our bodies, when ye 
were crowned ; for. Sir, we loved so well the King 
your father, that we cannot fail you in any wise." 

"That is our trust," quoth the King. So thus 
the King of Spain abode among his own men, who 



The Battle of Aljubarota 2^3 

were well a twenty thousand horsemen, all covered 
in steel. Sir Reginald de Limousin was in the first 
battalion, for it was his right, because he was 
marshal. 

The same Saturday was a fair day, and the sun 
was turned towards evensong. Then the first bat- 
talion came before Aljubarota, where the King of 
Portugal and his men were ready to receive them. 

Of these French knights there were a two thousand 
spears, as fresh and as well-ordered men as could be 
devised : and as soon as they saw their enemies, 
they joined together like men of war, and approached 
in good order till they came within a bowshot. At 
their first coming there was a hard encounter ; for 
such as desired to assail, to win grace and praise, 
entered into the narrow way, where the Englishmen 
by their policy had fortified them ; and because the 
entry was so narrow there was great press, and great 
mischief to the assailants ; for such English archers 
as were there, shot so wholly together, that their 
arrows pierced man and horse, and when the horses 
were full of arrows they fell one upon another. 

Then the English men of arms and the Portu- 
guese came on them, crying their cries " Our Lady 
for Lisbon ! " with good spears and sharp heads, 
wherewith they struck and hurt many knights and 
squires. There was the Lord of Lingnach, of 
Beam, beaten down, and his banner won, and he 



234 The Battle of Aljubarota 

taken prisoner, and many of his men taken and 
slain: also Sir John de Rue, Sir Geoffry Richon, 
Sir-GeofFry de Partenay, and all their companies 
that were entered within the narrow way : their 
horses were so hurt with the archers, that they fell 
on their masters, and one upon another: there these 
Frenchmen were in great danger, for they could 
not help one another, for they had no room to 
enlarge themselves, nor to fight at their will. 

When the Portuguese saw that mischief fall on 
the first assailers, they were glad, and as fresh and 
courageous to fight as any men might be. There 
was the King of Portugal, with his banners before 
him, mounted on a good horse, trapped with the arms 
of Portugal ; and he had great joy to see that mis- 
chief fall on his enemies; and to comfort his people 
he laughed and said a-high, " On ! forward good 
men ! defend you, and fight with good will ; if there 
be no more than these we need not to fear, for if I 
knew ever anything in battle, all these be ours." 
Thus the King of Portugal comforted his people, 
who fought valiantly, and had enclosed in the narrow 
way all the first assailers, of whom there were many 
slain. 

True it was that this first battalion had thought 
to have been quicklier aided of the Spaniards than 
they were ; for if the King of Castile and his com- 
pany had come by another part and assailed the 




The King of Portugal charging the Spaniards 
at Aljubarota 



The Battle of Aljubarota 235 

Portuguese, It had been likely the day had been 
theirs; but they did nothing, wherefore they were 
to blame, and received damage. Also, indeed, the 
Frenchmen set on too soon, but they did it to 
the intent to have won honour, and to maintain the 
words they had spoken before the King ; and also, 
as 1 was informed, the Spaniards would not set on 
so soon, for they loved not the Frenchmen, but 
said, " Let them alone, they shall find right well to 
whom to speak ; these Frenchmen are great boasters 
and high-minded, and also our King hath no perfect 
trust but in them ; and since the King would that 
they should have the honour of the day's work, let 
us suffer them to take it." 

Thus the Spaniards stood still in a great battalion, 
and would not go forward, which was right displeas- 
ant to the King, but he could not amend it. But 
the Spaniards said, because there was none returned 
from the battle, " Sir, surely these knights of France 
have discomfited your enemies; the honour of this 
day's work is theirs." 

" God give grace," quoth the King, " that it be 
so ; let us ride then somewhat forward." 

Then they rode a crossbow shot forward, and 
then again rested : it was a great beauty to see them, 
they were so well mounted and armed. 

In the mean season the Frenchmen fought, and 
such as had leisure to alight fought valiantly : 



236 The Battle of Aljubarota 

divers knights and squires of either party did many 
feats of arms one upon another, and when their 
spears failed, they took axes and gave many great 
strokes on the helms, slaying and maiming each 
other. Whosoever were in such case as the French- 
men and Portuguese at Aljubarota, must abide the 
adventure as they did : without they would fly away, 
and in flying there is more peril than to abide the 
battle, for in flying are most slain, and in battle 
when one seeth he is overmatched, he yieldeth him- 
self prisoner. It cannot be said but that the knights 
of France and of Beam right valiantly fought ; but 
at their first encounter they were hardly handled; 
and all that was by the counsel of the Englishmen 
to fortify their place. So they were all taken or 
slain, but few that were saved ; there were at that 
first brunt a thousand knights and squires taken 
prisoners. 

Thereof the Portuguese were joyful and thought 
to have no more battle that day, and so made good 
cheer to their prisoners and said, " Sirs, be not 
abashed, for ye are won by clean feat of arms ; we 
shall keep you good company, as we would ye should 
do, if ye had us in like case : ye shall come to Lis- 
bon and refresh you there, and shall be at your 
ease : " and they thanked them when they saw none 
other help. And so there some were put to their 
finance and ransomed immediately ; and some would 



The Battle of Aljubarota 237 

abide their adventure, for they imagined that the 
King of Spain, with his great army, would shortly 
come and deliver them. 



How the French knights and Gascons, such as were taken 
prisoners at Aljubarota by the Portuguese, were slain by 
their masters, and none escaped 

Tidings came into the field to the King of Castile 
and to his company, who were approaching to Alju- 
barota, by them that fled ; who came flying with 
great fear and said, "Sir King, advance yourself, for 
all they of the vanward are either taken or slain ; 
there is no remedy of their deliverance, without it 
be by your puissance." 

When the King heard these tidings, he was sore 
displeased: and he had good cause, for it touched 
him near. Then he commanded to ride on and 
said, " Advance forth, banners, in the name of God 
and St. George ! Let us ride to the rescue, since our 
men have need thereof." 

Then the Spaniards began to ride a better pace, 
close together in good order ; and by that time the 
sun was near down ; then some said it were best to 
abide till the morning. 

The King would that they should set on immedi- 
ately, and laid his reasons and said : " What, shall 
we leave our enemies in rest, now they be weary, to 



038 The Battle of Aljubarota 

give them leisure to refresh themselves ? Whoso- 
ever doth give that counsel, loveth not mine 
honour." Then they rode forward, making great 
noise and brunt, with sounding of trumpets and 
tabors, to abash therewith their enemies. 

Now shall I shew you what the King of Portugal 
did, and his company. As soon as they had dis- 
comfited the vanward and taken them prisoners, and 
saw no other battalion coming within their sight, yet 
for all that they would put no trust in their first vic- 
tory : therefore they sent six notable persons to go 
and view the country, to see if they should have 
any more to do. 

They that rode forth came and saw the King of 
Castile's great battalion coming towards them, fast 
approaching to Aljubarota, more than twenty thou- 
sand horsemen : then they returned as fast as they 
might, and said all a-high to the people, " Sirs, ad- 
vise you well, for as yet we have done nothing : 
behold yonder cometh the King of Castile with his 
great battalion of more than twenty thousand men." 

When they heard those tidings, they took short 
counsel, which was of necessity : then immediately 
they ordained a piteous deed ; for every man was 
commanded, on pain of death, to slay their prisoners, 
without mercy, none excepted, noble, gentle, rich, 
nor other. 

Then the lords, knights and squires that were 



The Battle of Aljubarota 239 

prisoners were in a hard case, for there was no 
prayer that availed them from the death ; and so 
they were slain, some in one place and some in an- 
other, as they were spread abroad unarmed, weening 
to have been saved, but they were not. To say 
truth it was a great pity, for every man slew his 
prisoner, and they that did not, other men slew 
them in their hands ; those who had given that 
counsel, said it was better to slay than to be slain, 
" for if we kill them not, while we be a-fighting they 
will escape and slay us, for there is no trust in a 
man's enemy." 

Thus was slain by a great mischief the Lord of 
Lingnach, Sir Peter de Beam, Sir Raymond de 
Corasse, and other knights of Beam, and squires to 
the number of three hundred, and of France Sir 
John de Rue, Sir GeofFry Richon, Sir Geoffry Par- 
tenay and divers others. Lo ! behold the great 
evil adventure that befell that Saturday ; for they 
slew as many good prisoners as would well have 
been worth, one with another, four hundred thou- 
sand francs. 

How the King of Castile and all his great battalion were 
discomfited by the King of Portugal before the vallage 
called Aljubarota 

When the English and Portuguese had slain all 
their prisoners — for never a one scaped without he 



240 The Battle of Aljubarota 

were conveyed to the village, where all the waggons 
were — then they drew all together with a fierce 
will, on the same place where they were first assailed; 
and then the sun was going down. 

Then the King of Castile, in a puissant array, 
with his banners and pennons displayed, and 
mounted on their horses well covered, came on, 
crying, " Castile ! " and began to enter into the 
place that was fortified ; and there they were re- 
ceived with spears and axes. And at the first 
coming the shot of arrows grieved sore their horses, 
so that many thereby were slain and overthrown : 
and all that time the King of Castile and his men 
knew not of the mischief that was fallen to the van- 
ward — not how they were all slain ; but he believed 
they had been still prisoners, thinking to recover 
them again, as ye have heard. 

There was a hard battle and a fierce, and many a 
man cast to the earth ; the English and Portuguese 
had no such advantage but that if they had not 
fought valiantly they had been lost and discomfited: 
what saved them was that their enemies could not 
come upon them but by one narrow way. There 
the King of Portugal lighted a-foot, and took an 
axe in his hand, and did marvellously in arms, and 
beat down a three or four with his own hands : so 
that he was feared, that none durst approach near 
him. 



The Battle of Aljubarota 241 

I shall shew some part of the character of the 
Spaniards. True it is that at their first setting on 
they are fierce and courageous, and high-minded if 
they have advantage ; they fight well a-horseback, 
but as soon as they have cast two or three darts, and 
given a stroke with their sword, and see that their 
enemies be not discomfited therewith, then they 
fear, and turn their horses, and fly away to save 
themselves, he that best may : and at this battle of 
Aljubarota they used the same play, for they found 
their enemies hard and strong, and as fresh in the 
battle as though they had done nothing all the day 
before ; whereof they had marvel ; and also that they 
heard no tidings of the vanward, nor where they 
were become. 

There the Spaniards that evening were in the 
hard fortune of battle and perilous for them ; for 
as many as entered into the stronghold were by 
vahantness and feats of arms all slain : the Lis- 
boners took no man to ransom, whatsoever he were, 
noble or other : so they had ordained, for they 
would not be charged with prisoners. There were 
slain a threescore barons and knights of Spain: at 
the battle of Najara, where the Prince of Wales dis- 
comfited King Don Henry of Castile, there were 
not slain so many noblemen of Castile as there 
were at this battle of Aljubarota, which was in the 
year of grace a thousand three hundred fourscore 



242 The Battle of Aljubarota 

and five, on a Saturday, on our Lady's Day In 
August. 

When the King of Castile understood and saw 
how his men were thus discomfited, without re- 
covery, and that Sir Reginald de Limousin was 
dead, who was his marshal, and saw how all his 
noble chivalry were lost, as well of his own realm as 
of France and elsewhere, such as were come thither 
to serve him with their good wills, he was then sore 
displeased, and wist not what counsel to take, for 
he saw that his men began to fly on every side ; and 
he heard how some said to him, " Sir, depart hence, 
it is time, the matter is in a hard case : ye cannot 
alone discomfit your enemies, nor recover your 
damages ; your people flieth all about, every man 
intendeth to save himself. Sir, save yourself, and 
ye do wisely ; if fortune be this day against you, 
another time it shall be better." 

The King of Castile believed counsel, and then 
changed his horse, and mounted on a fresh courser, 
strong and light, whereon no man had ridden before 
all day. Then the King struck the horse with his 
spurs, and turned his back towards his enemies, and 
took the way towards Santarem, whither all such as 
would save themselves fled. 

The same time the King of Castile had a knight 
of his household who bare his helmet, whereupon 
there was a circle of gold and stones, valued to 



The Battle of Aljubarota 243 

twenty thousand francs. It was ordained before 
they went out of Santarem that this knight should 
bear it till they came to the business, and then 
deliver it to the King to wear on his head : but this 
knight did not so ; for when they came to joining 
of the battle, the press was so great that this knight 
could not come to the King; also he was not called 
for ; wherefore he approached not to the King. 

And when he saw how his company were discom- 
fited, and that the Portuguese obtained the victory, 
and saw how every man fled on every side, he feared 
then the losing of such a rich jewel, and set then the 
helmet on his own head and so fled : but he took 
not the way to Santarem, but took another way to 
the town of Ville Arpent. 

Thus some fled this way and some that way, like 
people sore discomfited, but the most part fled to 
Santarem, and that evening thither came the King 
sore abashed. 

At this discomfiture of the Spaniards there was 
a great slaughter of men, and it had been greater if 
they had followed in the chase : the Englishmen, 
when they saw the Spaniards turn their backs, they 
said to the King of Portugal and to his men, " Sirs, 
demand for your horses, and follow the chase ; and 
all they that be fled shall be either taken or slain." 

" Nay, not so," quoth the King, " it sufliceth 
what we have done ; our men be weary and are 



244 The Battle of Aljubarota 

travailed, and it is near night, we shall not know 
whither to go : and though they fly, yet they be a 
great number, and peradventure they do it to draw 
us out of our stronghold, and so have us at their 
ease : let us this day keep them that be dead, and 
to-morrow take other counsel." 

" By my faith. Sir," quoth Hartsel, an English- 
man, " the dead bodies are easy to be kept : they 
shall never do us any hurt, nor we shall have of 
them no profit : we have slain many good prisoners, 
and we be strangers and are come from far off to 
serve you, therefore we would fain win somewhat of 
these calves that fly without wings, with their ban- 
ners waving with the wind." 

" Fair brother," quoth the King, " they that 
covet all, lose all ; it is better we make sure, since 
the honour of the victory is ours, and that God hath 
sent it us, rather than put ourselves in peril when it 
needeth not : we thank God we have enough to 
make you all rich." Thus in this case the matter 
rested. 

Thus as I have shewed you fell the business at 
Aljubarota : and there were slain a five hundred 
knights and as many squires, which was great pity 
and damage, and about a six or seven thousand of 
other men : God have mercy on their souls. 

And all that night, till the hour of six o'clock on 
the Sunday, the King of Portugal and his men re- 



The Battle of Aljubarota 245 

moved not from the place that they were in, nor 
ever unarmed them, but ate a little and drank every 
man as they stood, which was brought them from 
the village of Aljubarota. 

And on the Sunday in the morning, after the sun- 
rising, the King caused twelve knights to mount on 
their horses, and to ride forth to search the fields, to 
see if there were any new assembly : and when they 
had ridden here and there, they returned and shewed 
how they found nobody but dead men. 

" Well," quoth the King, " them we need not 
fear." 

Then it was published to depart thence and to go 
to the village of Aljubarota, there to abide all that 
day and night till Monday in the morning. So 
thus they departed, and left the church of Aljuba- 
rota, and went to the village, and there lodged, and 
tarried out all that Sunday and the next night : and 
on the Monday in the morning they counselled to 
draw towards Lisbon. 

Then they sounded trumpets to dislodge : and so 
in good order they departed and rode towards Lis- 
bon : and on the Tuesday the King entered into the 
town with much people, glory and triumph, and 
was received with procession, and so brought to 
his palace : and in riding through the streets, the 
people and children made feast and reverence, and 
cried with high voice, " Long live the noble King 



246 The Battle of Aljubarota 

of Portugal, to whom God hath given that grace to 
have victory of the puissant King of Castile, and 
hath discomfited his enemies." 

By this victory that the King of Portugal had of 
the King of Castile, he fell into such grace and love 
of his country and realm of Portugal, that all such 
as before the battle did assemble with him, then 
came all to him to Lisbon, to do to him their 
homage, saying how he was well worthy to live, and 
how that God loved him, in that he had discomfited 
a more puissant King than he was himself: where- 
fore he was worthy to bear a crown. 

Thus the King gat the grace of his people, and 
specially of all the commons of the realm. 

Now let us a little speak of the King of Castile, 
who, after that he was thus discomfited, went to 
Santarem weeping and lamenting for his people, and 
cursing his hard fortune, that so many noblemen 
of his own country and of France were slain in the 
field. The same time that he entered into San- 
tarem, he knew not yet the damage that he had ; 
but on the Sunday he knew it, for he had sent his 
heralds to search out the dead bodies : and he 
thought before that the most part of all such as the 
heralds found dead, had been but prisoners and 
saved alive ; but they were not, as it appeared : then 
he was so sore displeased and sorry, that no man 
could comfort him. When he heard the report of 



. The Battle of Aljubarota 247 

the heralds, and knew the certainty of them that 
were dead, then he said and sware that he should 
never again have joy, since so many noble men were 
dead in his quarrel. 

And after the third day that the King had tarried 
at Santarem, there came to him his knight with his 
helmet, who was called Sir Martin Harene, and de- 
livered the helmet to the King, which was valued 
as ye have heard before. And before there had 
been hard words spoken of him : some said that 
falsely he was run away from the King, and would 
never return again. 

Then the knight kneeled down before the King 
and excused himself so largely, that the King and 
his council were well content with him. 

Then a fifteen days after, the King of Castile re- 
turned to Burgos in Spain, and gave every man 
leave to depart. 

Then afterwards there were treaties for peace 
made between the King of Castile and the King of 
Portugal ; then a truce was taken, from the feast of 
St. Michael to the first day of May, both by land 
and by sea : and the dead bodies slain at Aljubarota 
were buried in the church there and in other churches 
thereabout, and the bones of divers were carried by 
their servants into their own countries. 



ORTHON, THE FAMILIAR SPIRIT 



VIII. ORTHON, THE FAMILIAR SPIRIT 

How a Spirit called Orthon served the lord of Corasse a 
long time, and brought him ever tidings from all parts 
of the world 

IT is a great marvel to consider one thing, the 
which was shewed me in the Earl of Foix' 
house at Orthes, by him that informed me of 
the battle at Aljubarota in Portugal, where the 
Spaniards and the men of Beam were defeated by 
l:he King of Portugal : he shewed me one thing 
that I have oftentimes thought on since, and shall 
do as long as I live. This squire told me that of 
truth the next day after the battle was fought at 
Aljubarota, the Earl of Foix knew it : whereof I 
had great marvel. 

For he said that on the Sunday, Monday and 
Tuesday, the Earl was very pensive, and so sad of 
cheer that no man could hear a word of him ; and 
all the same three days he would not issue out of 
his chamber, nor speak to any man, though they 
were never so near about him. And on the Tues- 
day, at night, he called to him his brother Arnaut 
Guillaume, and said to him with a soft voice, " Our 

251 



252 Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

men have had a hard fight, whereof I am sorry ; 
for it has happened to them on their voyage as I 
said before they departed.'* 

Arnaut Guillaume, who was a sage knight, and 
knew right well his brother's moods, stood still and 
gave no answer ; and then the Earl, who thought to 
declare his mind more plainly (for long he had 
borne the trouble thereof in his heart) spake again 
more higher than he did before and said, " By God, 
Sir Arnaut, it is as I say, and shortly ye shall hear 
tidings thereof: the country of Beam this hundred 
year never lost such a loss at no day's work as they 
have done now in Portugal." 

Divers knights and squires that were there pres- 
ent and heard him say so, stood still and durst not 
speak, but remembered his words : and within a ten 
days after, they knew the truth thereof from such 
as had been at the business, and then they shewed 
everything as it fortuned at Aljubarota. Then the 
Earl renewed again his dolour, and all the coun- 
try were in sorrow, for they had lost their parents, 
brethren, children and friends. 

" St. Mary ! " quoth I to the squire that shewed 
me this tale, "how is it that the Earl of Foix could 
know on one day what was done within a day or two 
before, being so far off? " 

" By my faith. Sir," quoth he, " as it well appeared, 
he knew it." 



Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 253 

"Then he is a diviner," quoth I, "or else he hath 
messengers that fly with the wind, or he must needs 
have some craft." 

The squire began to laugh and said, " Surely he 
must know it by some art of Nigromancy, or other- 
wise. To say the truth, we cannot tell how it is, but 
by our imaginations." 

" Sir," quoth I, " such imagination as ye have 
therein, if it please you to shew me, I would be glad 
thereof: and if it be such a thing as ought to be 
secret, I shall not publish it, nor as long as 1 am in 
this country I shall never speak word thereof" 

" I pray you so to do," quoth the squire, " for I 
would not it should be known that I should speak 
thereof: but I shall shew you, as divers men speak 
secretly when they be together as friends." 

Then he drew me apart into a corner of the 
chapel at Orthes, and then began his tale and 
said : " It is well a twenty years past that there 
was in this country a baron, called Raymond, Lord 
of Corasse, which is a seven leagues from this town 
of Orthes. 

" This Lord of Corasse had a plea at Avignon 
before the Pope, for the tithes of his Church, against 
a clerk curate there, the which priest came from 
Catalonia : he was a great clerk and claimed to have 
right to the tithes of the town of Corasse, which 
were valued at a hundred florins by the year ; and 



254 Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

the right that he had he shewed and proved it, and 
by sentence definitive, Pope Urban the Fifth, in 
Consistory General, condemned the knight, and 
gave judgment for the priest : and of this judg- 
ment he had letters of the Pope, for him to take 
possession of his tithes. 

" The Lord of Corasse had great indignation at 
this priest, and came to him and said : ' Master 
Peter, (or Master Martin, as his name was,) think- 
est thou that by reason of thy letters I will lose 
mine heritage ? Be not so hardy that thou take 
anything that is mine ; if thou do, it shall cost thee 
thy life. Go thy way into some other place to get 
thee a benefice ; for of mine heritage thou gettest 
no part, and once for always 1 forbid thee.' 

" The clerk feared the knight, for he was a cruel 
man ; therefore he durst not persevere. Then he 
thought to return to Avignon, as he did ; but when 
he departed he came to the knight, the Lord of 
Corasse, and said, ' Sir, by force and not by right, 
ye take away from me the right of my Churchy 
wherein ye greatly hurt your conscience. I am not 
so strong in this country as ye be ; but, Sir, know 
for truth, that as soon as I may, I shall send to you 
such a champion, whom ye shall fear more than 
me.' 

" The knight, who feared not his threatenings, said, 
* God be with thee : do what thou mavst. I fear 



Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 255 

no more death than life ; for all thy words I will 
not lose mine heritage.' 

" Thus the clerk departed from the Lord of Co- 
rasse, and went, I cannot tell whether to Avignon 
or into Catalonia ; and forgat not the promise that 
he had made to the Lord of Corasse before he de- 
parted. For afterward, when the knight thought 
least on him, about a three months after, as the 
knight lay one night abed in his castle of Corasse, 
with the lady his wife, there came to him messen- 
gers invisible and made a marvellous tempest and 
noise in the castle, that it seemed as though the 
castle would have fallen down, and struck great 
strokes at his chamber door, that the good lady his 
wife was sore afraid. 

*' The knight heard all, but he spake no word 
thereof, because he would shew no abashed courage ; 
for he was hardy to abide all adventures. This 
noise and tempest was in sundry places of the castle, 
and endured a long space, and at last ceased for 
that night. 

" Then the next morning all the servants of the 
house came to the lord, when he was risen, and 
said, ' Sir, have ye not heard this night what we 
have heard ? ' 

" The lord dissembled and said, ' No, I heard 
nothing ; what have vou heard ? ' 

" Then they shewed him what noise they had 



256 Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

heard, and how all the vessels in the kitchen were 
overturned. Then the lord began to laugh and 
said, ' See, Sirs, ye dreamed ; it was nothing but the 
wind.' 

"'In the name of God,' quoth the lady, *I 
heard it well.' 

" The next night there was as great noise, and 
greater, and such strokes given at his chamber door 
and windows, as all should have broken in pieces. 
The knight started up out of his bed, and would 
not cease to demand who was at his chamber door 
that time of the night ; and anon he was answered 
by a voice that said, ' I am here.' 

" Ouoth the knight, ' Who sent thee hither ? ' 

"'The clerk of Catalonia sent me hither,' quoth 
the voice, ' to whom thou dost great wrong, for 
thou hast taken from him the rights of his benefice : 
I will not leave thee in rest till thou hast made him 
a good account, so that he be pleased.' 

" Quoth the knight, ' What is thy name, that art 
so good a messenger ? ' 

" Quoth he, ' I am called Orthon.' 

" ' Orthon,' quoth the knight, * the service of a 
clerk is little profit for thee : he will put thee to 
much trouble if thou believe him. I pray thee 
leave him, and come and serve me, and I shall give 
thee good thanks.' 

" Orthon was ready to answer, for he was in love 



Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 257 

with the knightj and said, ' Wouldst thou fain have 
my service ? ' 

" ' Yea, truly,' quoth the knight, ' so thou do no 
hurt to any person in this house/ 

" ' No more I will do,' quoth Orthon, ' for I have 
no power to do any other evil, but to awake thee 
out of thy sleep, or some other.' 

" ' Well,' quoth the knight, ' do as I tell thee, 
and we shall soon agree : and leave the evil clerk, 
for there is no good thing in him but to put thee 
to trouble: therefore come and serve me.' 

" ' Well,' quoth Orthon, ' and since thou wilt 
have me, we are agreed.' 

"So this spirit Orthon loved so the knight, that 
oftentimes he would come and visit him while he 
lay in his bed asleep, and either pull him by the 
ear, or else strike at his chamber door or window, 
to awake him ; and when the knight awoke, then 
he would say, ' Orthon, let me sleep.' 

" ' Nay,' quoth Orthon, ' that will I not do till I 
have shewed thee such tidings as are befallen of 
late.' 

"The lady, the knight's wife, would be sore 
afraid, so that her hair would stand up, and she 
would hide herself under the clothes. Then the 
knight would say, ' Why, what tidings hast thou 
brought me ? ' 

" Quoth Orthon, ' I am come out of England, or 



258 Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

out of Hungary, or some other place, and yesterday 
I came thence, and such things are befallen, or such 
other/ 

" So thus the Lord of Corasse knew by Orthon 
everything that was done in any part of the world : 
and in this case he continued a five years, and could 
not keep his own counsel, but at last discovered it 
to the Earl of Foix : I shall shew you how. 

" The first year the Lord of Corasse came on a 
day to Orthes to the Earl of Foix and said to him, 
' Sir, such things are done in England, or in Scot- 
land, or in Germany, or in any other country/ 
And ever the Earl of Foix found his saying true, 
and had great marvel how he should know such 
things so shortly. And on a time the Earl of Foix 
examined him so strictly, that the Lord of Corasse 
shewed him altogether how he knew it, and how 
Orthon came to him first. 

" When the Earl of Foix heard that, he was joy- 
ful and said, ' Sir of Corasse, keep him well in your 
love : I would I had such a messenger : he costeth 
you nothing, and ye know by him everything that 
is done in the world.' 

" The knight answered and said, ' Sir, that is 
true.' 

" Thus the Lord of Corasse was served by Orthon 
a long season. I cannot say if this Orthon had any 
more masters or not : but every week, twice or 



Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 259 

thrice, he would come and visit the Lord of Corasse, 
and would shew him such tidings of anything that 
was befallen there from whence he came : and ever 
the Lord of Corasse, when he knew anything, he 
wrote thereof to the Earl of Foix, who had great joy 
thereof, for he was the lord of all the world that 
most desired to hear news out of strange places. 

" And on a time the Lord of Corasse was with the 
Earl of Foix, and the Earl demanded of him and 
said, ' Sir of Corasse, did ye ever yet see your mes- 
senger ? ' 

" ' Nay, surely. Sir,' quoth the knight, ' nor I never 
desired it/ 

"'That is marvel,' quoth the Earl; Mfl were as 
well acquainted with him as ye be, I would have de- 
sired to have seen him : wherefore I pray you desire 
it of him, and then tell me what form and fashion 
he is of: I have heard you say how he speaketh as 
good Gascon as either you or L' 

" ' Truly, Sir,' quoth the knight, ' so it is ; he 
speaketh as well and as fair as any of us both do : 
and surely. Sir, since ye counsel me, I shall take 
pains to see him, if I can.' 

" And so on a night, as he lay in his bed with the 
lady his wife, who was so used to hear Orthon that 
she was no more afraid of him, then came Orthon 
and pulled the lord by the ear, who was fast asleep, 
and therewith he awoke, and asked who was there. 



26o Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

"'I am here/ quoth Orthon. Then he de- 
manded, ' From whence comest thou now ? ' 

" ' I come,' quoth Orthon, ' from Prague in 
Bohemia.' 

" ' How far is that hence? ' quoth the knight. 

"'A threescore days' journey,' quoth Orthon. 

" ' And art thou come thence so soon ? ' quoth 
the knight. 

" ' Yea, truly,' quoth Orthon, ' I came so fast as 
the wind, or faster.' 

" ' Hast thou then wings ? ' quoth the knight. 

" ' Nay, truly,' quoth he. 

" ' How canst thou then fly so fast ? ' quoth the 
knight. 

" 'Ye have nothing to do with that,' quoth Orthon. 

" ' No ? ' quoth the knight, ' I would gladly see 
thee, to know what form thou art of 

" ' Well,' quoth Orthon, ' ye have nothing to do 
with that : it sufficeth you to hear me, and that I 
shew you tidings.' 

" ' In faith,' quoth the knight, ' I would love thee 
much better, if I might see thee once.' 

" ' Well,' quoth Orthon, ' Sir, since ye have so 
great desire to see me, the first thing that ye see 
to-morrow when ye rise out of your bed, the same 
shall be I.' 

" ' That is sufficient,' quoth the lord, ' go thy 
ways : I give thee leave to depart for this night.' 



Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 261 

" The next morning the lord arose, and the lady 
his wife was so afraid that she durst not rise, but 
feigned herself sick, and said she would not rise. 
Her husband would have had her to have risen. 
* Sir,' quoth she, ' then I shall see Orthon ; and I 
would not see him by my good will.' 

" ' Well,' quoth the knight, ' I would gladly see 
him.' And so he arose fair and easily out of his 
bed and sat down on his bedside, weening to have 
seen Orthon in his own proper form, but he saw 
nothing whereby he might say, ' Lo, yonder is 
Orthon.' 

" So that day passed, and the next night came ; 
and when the knight was in his bed, Orth®n came 
and began to speak, as he was accustomed. 

" ' Go thy way,' quoth the knight, ' thou art but 
a liar : thou promisedst that I should have seen 
thee, and it was not so.' 

"'No?' quoth he, 'but I shewed myself to 
thee.' 

" ' That is not so,' quoth the lord. 

"'Why,' quoth Orthon, 'when ye rose out of 
your bed, saw you nothing ? ' 

" Then the lord studied a little, and considered 
well. 'Yes, truly,' quoth the knight, 'now I re- 
member me, as I sat on my bedside, thinking on 
thee, I saw two straws on the pavement tumbling 
one over another.' 



262 Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

" * That same was 1/ quoth Orthon, ' into that 
form I did put myself then.' 

" ' That is not enough for me,' quoth the lord. 
' I pray thee put thyself into some other form, that 
I may better see and know thee.' 

"'Well,' quoth Orthon, 'ye will do so much 
that ye will lose me, and I shall go from you, for 
ye desire too much of me.' 

" ' Nay,' quoth the knight, ' thou shalt not go 
from me : let me see thee once, and I will desire no 
more.' 

" ' Well,' quoth Orthon, ' ye shall see me to- 
morrow ; take heed, the first thing that ye see after 
ye be out of your chamber, it shall be I.' 

" ' Well,' quoth the knight, ' I am then content : 
go thy way, let me sleep.' 

" So Orthon departed, and the next morning the 
lord arose, and issued out of his chamber, and went 
to a window, and looked down into the court of the 
castle, and cast about his eyes ; and the first thing 
he saw was a sow, the greatest that ever he saw ; 
and she seemed to be so lean and ill-favoured, that 
there was nothing on her but the skin and the bones, 
with long ears and a long lean snout. 

" The Lord of Corasse had marvel of that lean 
sow, and was weary of the sight of her, and com- 
manded his men to fetch his hounds, and said, ' Let 
the dogs hunt her to death and devour her.' His 



Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 263 

servants opened the kennels and let out his hounds, 
and did set them on this sow : and at the last the 
sow made a great cry, and looked up to the Lord of 
Corasse as he looked out at a window, and so 
suddenly vanished away, no man wist how. 

"Then the Lord of Corasse entered into his 
chamber right pensive, and then he remembered 
him of Orthon his messenger, and said, ' I repent 
me that I set my hounds on him : it is a chance if 
ever I hear any more of him, for he said to me 
oftentimes, that if I displeased him, I should lose 
him/ 

" The lord said truth, for he never after came 
into the castle of Corasse ; and also the knight died 
the year next following. 

" Lo ! Sir," quoth the squire, " thus I have 
shewed you the life of Orthon, and how for a season 
he served the Lord of Corasse with new tidings." 

" It is true. Sir," quoth I ; " but now, as to your 
first purpose : is the Earl of Foix served by such a 
messenger ^ " 

" Surely," quoth the squire, " it is the imagina- 
tion of many that he hath such messengers ; for 
there is nothing done in any place, but if he set his 
mind thereto, he will know it, and that when men 
think least thereof: and so did he when the good 
knights and squires of this country were slain in 
Portugal, at Aljubarota. Some say the knowledge 



264 Orthon, the Familiar Spirit 

of such things hath done him much profit ; for if 
there be but the value of a spoon lost in his house, 
anon he will know where it is." 

So thus then I took leave of the squire, and 
went to other company ; but I bare well away his 
tale. 



THE DEATH OF THE EARL OF FOIX 



IX. THE DEATH OF THE EARL OF 
FOIX 

Of the sudden death of the Earl Gaston of Foix, and how 
the Earl of Chatel-bon came to the inheritance 

THE noble and gentle Earl of Foix died 
right marvellously : I shall show you bv 
what incident. 

Truly of all sports this Earl lov^ed hunting with 
hounds and greyhounds, and of them he was well 
provided, for always he had at his commandment 
more than sixteen hundred. 

Now the Earl was at Beam in the marches of 
Orthes, and went daily a-hunting into the woods of 
Sauveterre, the way to Pampeluna: the same day that 
he died he had hunted and killed a bear, and by that 
time it was high noon. Then the Earl demanded 
of them that were about him, where his dinner was 
provided : it was shewed him, at the hostelry of 
Rion, a two little miles from Orthes. 

So thither he rode to dinner, and so alighted 
there and went into his chamber, the which was 
strewed with green herbs, and the walls set full of 
green boughs, to make the chamber more fresh, for 

267 



268 The Death of the Earl of Folx 

the air without was marvellously hot, as in the month 
of May. 

When he felt that fresh air he said, " Ah ! this fresh- 
ness doth me much good, for the day hath been very 
hot," and so sat down in a chair. Then he talked 
and discoursed with Sir Espaing du Lyon of his 
hounds, which had run best ; and as he thus dis- 
coursed, there came into the chamber Sir Yvain his 
bastard son, and Sir Peter de Cabestan ; and the 
tables were ready covered in the same chamber. 

Then water was brought for to wash, and two 
squires came forward, Raymonet de Laisne and 
Raymonet de Copane, and Ernauton d'Espaign took 
a silver bason, and Sir Thibaut took the towel. 
Then the Earl rose and put out his hands to wash, 
and as soon as the cold water fell on his fingers, he 
went pale in the face, and suddenly his heart failed 
him, and he fell down, and in the falling said, " Ah ! 
I am but dead: God have mercy on me." He 
never spake word after : howbeit he died not so 
soon, but lay in great pain. 

The knights that were about him were sore 
abashed, and so was his son : they took him in their 
arms, and laid him on a bed and covered him, trust- 
ing that he was but in a trance. The two squires 
that had given him water, to the intent that it should 
not be said that they had empoisoned him, took the 
bason and the ewer and said, " Sirs, here in your 




Death of Gaston, Earl of Foix 



The Death of the Earl of Foix 269 

presence behold here this water, the which we took 
assay of, and will do again ; '* and then they drank 
thereof, so that every man was content with them. 

They put into the Earl's mouth drink and spices, 
and other things comfortable : but all that availed 
nothing, for in less than half an hour he was dead, 
and yielded up his breath sweetly. God of his pity 
have mercy on him. 

All such as were there were greatly troubled ; then 
they closed the chamber door, to the intent that his 
death should not be so suddenly known abroad. 
The knights beheld Sir Yvain his son, who wept 
piteously and wrung his hands : and the knights 
that were with him said, " Sir Yvain, ye have now 
lost your father ; we know well he loved you en- 
tirely: leave your sorrow and leap on your horse 
and ride to Orthes. Take you possession of the 
castle, and of your father's treasure that is within it, 
or ever the death of your father be known abroad." 

Sir Yvain inclined to those words and said, " Sirs, 
I thank you for your good counsel, the which I 
shall deserve ; but let me have some token that is 
on my father, or else I shall not be suffered to enter 
into the castle." 

" That is true. Sir," quoth they, " take some 
token from your father." 

Then he took a ring from his father's finger, and 
a knife that he bare always about him : these tokens 



270 The Death of the Earl of Foix 

the porter of the castle knew well ; if he had not 
brought them, he should not have entered in there. 

Thus Sir Yvain of Foix departed from the hos- 
telry of Rion, and three with him, and rode in haste 
to the castle of Orthes. He rode through the town, 
no man mistrusting him, and so came to the castle 
and called the porter, who answered and said, " Sir, 
what would you here : where is my lord your 
father P " 

" He is at the hostel of Rion," quoth the knight, 
" and hath sent me for certain things that are in his 
chamber, and then I must return again to him : and 
to the intent that thou shouldest beheve me, behold 
here his ring and knife." 

The porter opened a window and saw the tokens, 
which he knew well : then the porter opened the 
wicket, and he entered in, and his servants did set 
up his horses. As soon as he was entered, he said 
to the porter, "Close again the gate"; then he took 
the porter and said, "DeHver me the keys, or else 
thou art but dead." 

The porter was abashed and said, " Sir, why say 
ye thus ? " 

" Because," quoth he, " my father is dead, and I 
will have possession of his treasure, before any other 
come here." 

The porter obeyed, for he durst do none other- 
wise, and he loved Sir Yvain as well as another. 



The Death of the Earl of Foix 271 

The knight knew right well where the treasure 
lay, which was in a strong tower, whereto belonged 
three strong doors, surely bolted and barred, and 
with divers keys pertaining to them : and these keys 
he could not find readily, for they were in a coffer 
of steel, and locked with a little key of steel, which 
key the Earl ever bare on him wheresoever he 
went, in a little purse about his neck, which (after 
Sir Yvain was departed from the hostel) was found 
by the knights that were about the dead corpse : 
they marvelled what key it should be that the Earl 
bare so privily about himself 

Then the Earl's chaplain, called Sir Nicholas de 
L'Escalle, who knew all the Earl's secrets (for the 
Earl loved him well, and ever when he went into 
his treasury house he had his chaplain with him) 
said, as soon as he saw the key, " Ah ! Sir Yvain 
hath but lost his trouble, for this is the key of a 
little coffer, wherein are all the keys of the tower 
and the coffer where all the Earl's treasure lieth." 

Then the knights said, " Sir Nicholas, go and ride 
you to Orthes, and bare him the key." 

" Sirs," quoth he, " since ye give me the counsel, 
I shall do it, for it were better he had his father's 
treasure than another ; and also I know well his 
father loved him entirely." Then he took his horse 
and took the key, and rode to the castle of Orthes : 
and all that time Sir Yvain was searching all about 



272 The Death of the Earl of Foix 

for those keys, and could not find them, nor wist 
not how to get the tower door open, it was so strong, 
and also he had no instruments to break it open 
withal : and in this mean season the men of the 
town had soon knowledge, by servants or women that 
came from the hostel, how the Earl should be dead. 

These were hard tidings to them, for the Earl 
was well beloved with all his people. They of the 
town assembled together in the market-place, and 
said one to another, such as had seen Sir Yvain pass 
through the town alone : " We have seen Sir Yvain 
pass through the town alone towards the castle, and 
it seemed by his countenance he was not content : 
surely there is something amiss, for he was not v/ont 
to come home before his father." 

Thus as they were communing together, there 
came into the town the Earl's chaplain : then the 
men of the town came about him, and demanded 
news of the Earl their lord. " It hath been shewed 
us that he is dead : is it so or not ? " 

" Nay," quoth the priest, " he is not dead, but he 
is sore sick, and I have come home before to cause 
things to be dressed for him, and then I must return 
again to him ; " and so therewith he passed forth to 
the castle, and did so much that he entered : of 
whose coming Sir Yvain had great joy, for without 
the key that he brought he could not have entered 
into the tower where the treasure was. 



The Death of the Earl of Foix 273 

Then the men of the town had great suspicion 
of the Earl's death and said: " It is near night, and 
as yet we hear nothing of our lord nor of none of his 
officers, and Sir Yvain and his chaplain are entered 
into the castle suspiciously : let us watch the cas- 
tle this night, and to-morrow we shall hear other 
tidings ; let us send secretly to the hostel, then shall 
we know how the matter goeth. Also we know 
well the most part of the Earl's treasure is within 
the castle, and if it be stolen away by craft, we shall 
be blamed for it ; ignorance shall not excuse us." 
They all thought it was best for them so to do. 

Then the men of the town drew about the castle, 
and kept the gates of the town surely, that none 
should enter or issue without licence. Thus they 
watched all night ; and in the morning they had 
perfect knowledge of the death of their lord. Then 
every man, woman and child cried out and wept 
piteously, for the Earl was well beloved : and the 
armed watchmen were doubled and increased about 
the castle. 

When Sir Yvain of Foix saw the manner of the 
men of the town, and saw well how he was per- 
ceived, and that they knew the certainty of the death 
of his father, then he said to Sir Nicholas, " Sir, I 
have failed of mine intent : I see well I cannot de- 
part hence without licence : the men of the town 
have knowledge of my father's death, and they 



274 The Death of the Earl of Foix 

assemble in great number before the castle : it 
behoveth me to humble myself to them, for force 
cannot avail me." 

" Sir, ye say truth," quoth the priest, " ye shall win 
more by sweet and fair words than by rude and fro- 
ward dealing : go your way and speak with them." 

Then Sir Yvain went into a tower near to the 
gate, and opened a window over the bridge, and 
spake to them that were the principals of the town, 
who came on the bridge near to the window, to hear 
what he would say. 

Then he spake aloud and said : " O ye good peo- 
ple of Orthes, I know well the cause of your assem- 
bly ; it is not without a great occasion : howbeit, I 
entreat you, as dearly as ye loved my lord and 
father, that ye be not displeased with me, though 
I have advanced myself to enter into this castle first 
before any other should enter, and to take posses- 
sion thereof, and of such goods as be within it ; for 
I will do nothing but good. Ye know well that my 
lord my father loved me as well and entirely as his 
own son, and would have found the way to have 
made me his inheritor: and now it hath pleased God 
to call him to his mercy, without accomplishing any- 
thing of mine advancement. And now he hath left 
me among you, where I have been brought up, and 
am left now as a poor knight, without I have your 
aid and help : wherefore. Sirs, I entreat you in God*s 



The Death of the Earl of Foix 



275 



behalf to have pity on me, wherein ye shall do great 
charity : and I shall open the castle and suffer you 
to enter : I will not keep it against you.'* 

Then they answered and said, " Sir Yvain, ye 
have spoken so nobly that it ought to suffice : and. 
Sir, we say that we will abide with you, and our in- 
tent is to keep this castle and goods with you : and 
if the Viscount of Chatel-bon your cousin, who is 
next inheritor to this country of Beam, as next kins- 
man to your father, come hither to claim his heri- 
tage and movables, before he have it he shall know 
well how we shall defend you and your right for you 
and your brother Sir Gracien, and this we promise 
you faithfully to uphold." 

With this answer Sir Yvain was well content, and 
then opened the gate of the castle of Orthes, and 
such entered as would : and the same day the Earl's 
body was brought thither. 

At the meeting of the corpse men and women 
wept piteously, in the remembrance of his nobleness 
and puissant estate, his wit and prudence, his prow- 
ess and generosity, and the great prosperity that he 
lived in : for there was neither French nor English 
that durst displease him. Most part of the people 
said, " Now our neighbours will make us war ; 
whereas we were wont to Hve in peace and freedom, 
now shall we be in bondage, in misery and subjec- 
tion : now there is none to aid us. 



276 The Death of the Earl of Foix 

" Ah ! Gaston, Gaston, fair son, why did ye ever 
so displease your father, that it cost you your life ? 
If ye had been left with us, it should now have been 
to us a great comfort ; but we lost you too young, 
and your father hath tarried too short a season with 
us : he was but threescore and three years of age ; 
he might have lived, for any age, many a year 
longer : it was no great age for such a prince, having 
everything at his ease and wish. 

" Ah ! thou land of Beam, destitute and without 
comfort of any noble heritor, what shall become of 
thee ? Thou shalt never have again such another as 
was this gentle Earl of Foix." 

With such lamentations and weepings the body of 
this noble Earl was borne through the town of 
Orthes by eight noble knights : the first the Viscount 
of Bruniquel, and against him the Lord of Copane ; 
the third Sir Roger d'Espaign, and against him Sir 
Raymond de Laisne ; the fifth Sir Raymond de la 
Motte, against him the Lord of Besach ; the seventh 
Sir Mouvant de Noailles, and against him Sir Richard 
de St. George. And behind was Sir Yvain his bas- 
tard son, the Lord of Corasse, the Lord of Barentin, 
the Lord of Baruge, the Lord of Quer, and more 
than threescore other knights of Beam, who were 
soon come to the hostel of Rion when they knew 
of the Earl's death. 

Thus he was carried with face uncovered to the 




The Viscount of Chatel-bon's Embassy to the 
Court of France 



The Death of the Earl of Foix 277 

church of the Freres In Orthes, and there he was 
embahned and laid in lead, and so left in good 
keeping unto the day of interment : and night and 
day there were burning about his body four and 
twenty torches, borne by eight and forty yeomen, 
four and twenty in the night and four and twenty 
in the day. 

In this meantime word was sent to the Viscount 
of Chatel-bon, being in the realm of Aragon, of the 
death of his cousin the Earl of Foix. Then he 
rode till he came into Beam, straight to Orthes. 

They of the town made him good cheer ; howbeit 
they took him not then for their lord, but said how 
all the country was not assembled, and that first 
they must assemble together the prelates, lords and 
men of the good towns, and counsel together what 
they should do. Then it was advised for the best, 
first to make the interment of the Earl Gaston of 
Foix at Orthes, and to send for all the nobles of 
Beam and of Foix, such as would come, and then 
to take counsel whom they should accept for their 
lord. 

And at the last after much trouble, by the ordinance 
of the French King all things were concluded : the 
Viscount of Chatel-bon was Earl of Foix and Lord of 
Beam, in Uke manner as the old Earl held it, and 
all such as ought so to do made homage to him ; 
and he shared largely with Sir Yvain and Sir 



278 The Death of the Earl of Foix 

Gracien, the old Earl's bastard sons, in such wise 
that they were content ; and he paid to the French 
King sixty thousand francs at one payment. How- 
beit this matter was not soon done, for summer was 
first well onward : but I think J have sufficiently 
treated of the business, for if I should rehearse all 
things, it would require long writing : therefore I 
will leave speaking thereof, and treat of other 
matters. 

The day of the obsequy of the gentle Earl, 
Gaston of Foix, last Earl of that name, done in 
the Freres in the town of Orthes the year of our 
Lord God a thousand three hundred fourscore and 
eleven, on a Monday, there was much people of the 
country of Beam and of other places, both lords, 
knights and other prelates: there were three bishops, 
the Bishop of Pamiers who said the Mass, and the 
Bishops of Lescar and Oleron, who held of Beam. 

There was a goodly hearse and well ordered ; and 
during the Mass-time there were holden before the 
altar by four knights four banners, with the arms of 
Foix and of Beam : the first held Sir Raymond de 
Chatel-neuf, the second Sir Espaing du Lyon, the 
third Sir Peter de Quer, the fourth Sir Mouvant de 
Noailles. Sir Roger d'Espaign offered the sword, 
between the Bourg de Copane and Sir Peter Arnaut 
de Beam, captain of Lourdes : the shield was borne 
by the Viscount of Bruniquel, between Sir John de 



The Death of the Earl of Foix 279 

Chatel-neuf and John de Chantiron : the helm was 
offered by the Lord Valentin de Beam, between Sir 
Arnold de Resten and Ernauton de Ste. Colombe : 
the horse was offered by the Lord of Corasse, 
between Ernauton d'Espagne and Raymonet de 
Copane. 

This interment was honourably done, according 
to the usage of the country, and there were the two 
bastard sons of the Earl of Foix, Sir Yvain and Sir 
Gracien, and the Viscount of Chatel-bon, and all the 
barons of Beam and some of Foix. 

Thus the Earl was buried in the Freres, before 
the high altar : so there is no more mention made 
of him : God have mercy upon his soul. 



( 



THE INVASION OF ENGLAND 



X. THE INVASION OF ENGLAND 

Of the great apparel and provision that was made in the 
realm of France by the King there and by his Council, 
for a journey to be made into England 

IN the year of our Lord thirteen hundred four- 
score and six, the Duke John of Lancaster 
was gone into Castile with divers lords and 
barons, and a thousand spears of knights and squires, 
good men of arms, and two thousand archers, and a 
thousand of other tall yeomen : and the French 
King and his council were well informed of his 
voyage. Wherefore they sought to find some 
remedy there-against, for the French King and the 
realm of France were bound for divers reasons to 
aid the necessity of the King of Castile ; and besides 
that the young King, Charles of France, had great 
desire to go with an army into the realm of Eng- 
land ; and all knights and squires of France were 
well agreed thereto, and specially his uncle the Duke 
of Burgundy, and the Constable of France. 

These lords and the most part of the chivalry of 
France said, " Why should we not for once go into 
England to see the country and the people there, 

283 



284 The Invasion of England 

and teach them the way, as they have done in 
France ? " 

And so, what to the intent to break the Duke of 
Lancaster's voyage, and to cause him to return out 
of Castile, and to give fear to the Englishmen, 
great ordinance for that voyage was made in France, 
and taxes set and assessed in cities and good towns, 
that in a hundred year before there was none such 
seen ; and also great apparel made by the sea all 
that summer. Till the month of September they 
did nothing else on the sea coast but grind corn 
and bake biscuit, and the same at Tournai, Lille, 
Douai, Arras, Amiens, Bethune, St. Omer, and all 
the towns about Sluys : for the French King's inten- 
tion was to take the sea at Sluys, and so to enter 
into England to destroy the country. 

From Spain and from the port of Seville to 
Prussia, there was no great ship on the sea that the 
Frenchmen could lay their hands on, but it was 
retained for the French King and his men. Provi- 
sion came from all parts and arrived in Flanders, 
both wine, salt, flour, hay in tons, oats, onions, 
biscuit, flour, eggs in barrels and all manner of 
things that could be devised ; so that in time to 
come it could not be believed but by them that saw 
it. Lords, knights, squires and men of war were 
written unto, and desired to come and serve the 
King in his journey, as far as from the sun going 



The Invasion of England 285 

down to Germany, Savoy and the land of the Earl 
of Armagnac : the Earl of Savoy was retained with 
five hundred spears, also the Earl of Armagnac, and 
the Dauphin of Auvergne. And these lords, though 
they were of far countries, and knew not what end 
this war should come to, yet they made their provi- 
sions so great and costly, that it was great marvel 
to think thereof, and to consider from whence all 
such provision came. 

And there was sent for into Holland, Zealand, 
Middleburgh, Dordrecht, Schoenhoven and all 
other towns on the sea coast, for all manner of ships 
that could do any service ; and all were brought to 
Sluys ; but the Hollanders and the Zealanders said 
to them that retained them, " If ye will have our 
service, pay us our wages clearly, or else we will go 
to no part:" so they were paid; wherein they did 
wisely. 

I trow, since God created the world, there was 
never seen so many great ships together as were 
that year at Sluys and at Blankenburg ; for in the 
month of September in the said year they were 
numbered a twelve hundred and seven ships at 
Sluys : their masts seemed like a great wood in the 
sea. 

The Constable of France's ship was apparelled 
at Treguier in Brittany ; also the Constable caused 
to be made in Brittany the enclosure of a town, or 



286 The Invasion of England 

like a park, of timber ; that when they had taken 
land in England, they might close in their camp, to 
lodge therein more at their ease, without waking 
or alarms : and whensoever they should remove 
their camp, the enclosure was so made that they 
might take it asunder in pieces, and a great number 
of carpenters and others were retained in wages to 
attend thereto. 

Whoso had been that season at Bruges, at 
Damme or at Sluys, and seen the business there in 
charging of ships with hay, sacking of biscuit, and 
lading in of onions, peas, beans, barley, candles, 
hose, spurs, knives, daggers, axes of war, axes to 
hew withal, mattocks, nails, beds, horse-shoes, pots, 
pans and all manner of necessaries for kitchen, 
buttery and all other offices, and of everything that 
could be thought of, necessary to serve man and 
horse — whosoever had seen it, if he had been sick, 
I think he would clean have forgotten all the pain. 
The companions of France, when they spake to- 
gether, reckoned none otherwise among themselves, 
but that the realm of England should clean have 
been lost and wasted without recovery, and all the 
men, women and children therein slain, or taken 
and carried into France in servitude. 

Of this great preparation thus made to come 
into England, King Richard of England and his 
council were well informed : and it was surely 



The Invasion of England 287 

affirmed that the Frenchmen would come thither, 
for so they had surely sworn. 

It was no marvel if this great apparel at the be- 
ginning somewhat abashed the Englishmen ; and 
also the matter was showed to be much more than 
it was in deed ; and also the Englishmen were in no 
sure certainty whether this preparation was to come 
into England, or else to lay siege to Calais both by 
land and by sea : for the Englishmen knew well, 
that of all the towns in the world, the Frenchmen 
most desired to have Calais. 

Wherefore the King of England sent to Calais 
great provision of wheat and other things, and thither 
was sent Sir Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, with 
five hundred men of arms and five hundred archers ; 
and the Earl Richard of Arundel and Sir Henry 
Despenser were ordained to keep the sea with forty 
great ships well decked, with men to the number 
of three hundred men of arms and six hundred 
archers. 

Now let us return to the provisions that were 
made at this season at Damme and at Sluys. It is 
not had in remembrance of men, nor by writing, 
that ever the like was seen or heard of. Gold and 
silver were no more spared than though it had 
rained out of the clouds, or been scooped out of the 
sea : the great lords of France sent their servants 
to Sluys, to apparel and make ready their provisions 



288 The Invasion of England 

and ships, and to furnish them with everything use- 
ful. 

The King himself, young as he was, had more 
will to this journey than any other, and that he 
always shewed to the end thereof Every man 
helped to make provision for other, and to garnish 
their ships, and paint them with their arms : 
painters had then a good season, for they won and 
had whatsoever they asked, and yet there could not 
enough of them be got for money. 

They made banners, pennons and standards of 
silk, so goodly that it was marvel to behold them : 
also they painted the masts of their ships, from the 
one end to the other, glittering with gold and de- 
vices and arms : and specially it was shewed me 
that the Lord Guy de la Tremouille garnished his 
ship richly ; the paintings that were made cost more 
than ten thousand francs. Whatsoever any lord 
could devise for their pleasure was made on the 
ships : and the poor people of the realm paid for 
all ; for the taxes were there so great, to furnish this 
voyage, that they that were most rich sorrowed for 
it, and the poor fled for it. 

With what demeanour they in England beheld the 
preparation of the Frenchmen 

In England the people in divers places of the 
realm were sore abashed, and there were made gen- 




Richard II. of England at the Head of his Army 



The Invasion of England 289 

eral processions in every good town and city by the 
prelates and men of the Church, three times every 
week ; which were made in great devotion with the 
heart, with holy prayer and orisons to God, to 
deliver them from that peril. 

Howbeit there were in England a hundred thou- 
sand that desired heartily that the Frenchmen might 
come and arrive in England : and such light com- 
panions, in comforting of themselves and of them 
that were abashed said, " Let these Frenchmen 
come : there shall not one tail of them return again 
into France ; " and such persons as were in debt, 
and cared not for the payment thereof, were greatly 
rejoiced of the coming of the Frenchmen, and would 
say to their creditors, when they demanded their 
debt, " Sirs, hold you still ; they forge in France 
new florins, wherewith ye shall be paid." 

And in the trust thereof they lived and spent 
largely : and when they might not be trusted, they 
would say, " What would ye have of us ? It were 
better for you that we should spend freely of the 
goods of this realm, rather than that the French- 
men should find it and have it." And so by that 
means there was spent in outrage in England a 
thousand pounds sterling. 

When the lords of England and the prelates and 
the people of the good towns and cities and the 
commons of the realm were justly and credibly 
u 



290 The Invasion of England 

informed how the French King was ready to come 
into England to destroy it, then they drew together 
to take counsel, how they should be demeaned 
against this journey of the French King. 

Then the Earl of Salisbury, who was a right 
valiant and prudent knight, said before the King 
and his uncles, and before all the prelates and lords 
of England that were there present : — 

" Sir, my sovereign lord, and all ye, my lords and 
others, it ought not to be marvelled at if our ad- 
versary the French King will come and run upon 
us ; for since the death of the last noble and puis- 
sant King Edward, of noble memory, this realm 
here hath been in great danger to have been lost 
and destroyed by revolts in the same : and it is well 
known in France how we be not all of one accord. 
Wherefore this trouble appeareth ; the which is not 
little, for he is but a fool that feareth not his enemies. 

" As long as the realm of England was in unity, 
the King with his people, and they with him, then 
we prospered and reigned victoriously, nor we saw 
nor found none that did us any great wrong: where- 
fore it is now needful — never more need appeared 
in England — that we confirm ourselves to rest in 
love and unity, if we think to come to any honour : 
and that we ordain at the ports and havens of Eng- 
land such provision and defence that our country 
receive no blame nor damage. 



The Invasion of England 291 

"This noble realm of England hath been a long 
season in triumphant flower; and every man knoweth 
well, a thing that is in flower hath more need to be 
well kept than when it is turned to perfect fruit : 
therefore we ought to see and consider how this 
realm is in his flourishing flower, for within this 
sixty years knights and squires thereof, both within 
the realm and without, have had more honour than 
any other nation : therefore let us put to our pains, 
that as long as we live we may keep this honour/* 
Then every man said that it were good that it 
were so. 

The Earl of Salisbury's words were well heard 
and accepted as the words and counsel of a noble, 
valiant and sage knight. All that was said by him, 
and devised among them, I will not long rest thereon, 
for I think not to know all : but I know well that 
the town of Calais was kept as I said before, and 
they ordained to guard the havens and ports where 
they supposed that the Frenchmen would arrive. 

All the havens and ports between the river of 
Humber and Cornwall were refreshed with men of 
war and archers ; and on the mountains and hills 
coasting the sea on the frontiers against Flanders 
and France were set watchmen and watchers in 
divers manners : they had empty barrels filled with 
sand, one set on another, and on the height of them 
were places for men to sit on, who night and day 



292 The Invasion of England 

kept watch, looking onto the sea. And they were 
charged, if they saw the French navy approach 
towards the land, then to make fires aloft on the 
hills, to stir the country to draw to the coast where 
the fires appeared. 

It was also ordained that they should suffer the 
French King and all his, peaceably to take land, 
and to suflFer him to enter into the land a three or 
four days, and then first to go to the sea where he 
landed, and to fight with the ships, and to win 
them if they could, to destroy them and take all 
their provision : and then to follow the Frenchmen, 
not immediately to fight with them, but to harry 
them and to keep them waking, and to keep them 
from going a-foraging, and to destroy all of them 
that were abroad in the country : so that thereby 
they should famish them. 

This was the opinion and counsel in England. 
And whereas taxes were great in France on the 
men of the towns, in likewise they were great that 
season in England, so that the realm sorrowed it a 
great season after : but they were glad to pay the 
soldiers, to be thereby defended. 

How the French King and his uncles arrived at Sluys in 
Flanders, to the intent to pass into England 

The knights and squires of France rejoiced when 
they departed from their houses to go with the 



The Invasion of England 293 

French King into England, and said, " Now let us 
go on these cursed Englishmen, who have done so 
many evils and persecutions in France ; now shall 
we be avenged for our fathers, brethren and kins- 
men, whom they have slain and discomfited : " and 
it was said in all Flanders, " The King cometh to- 
morrow." 

And when it came to the midst of August, and 
that the voyage should approach, to the intent to 
make them of far countries make the more haste, 
and to give ensample, the King took his leave of 
the Queen his wife, and of Queen Blanche, and of 
the Duchess of Orleans, and of the other ladies 
of France, and heard Mass solemnly in our Lady's 
Church in Paris : and his intention was, never to re- 
turn again to Paris till he had been first in England. 

So the King rode to Senlis, and so to Arras : and 
daily there came down people from all parts, so 
that the country was clean eaten up ; nothing was 
left abroad in the country, but it was taken without 
paying anything, so that the poor common people 
that had gathered together their corn had nothing 
left them but straw : and if they spake thereof they 
were beaten or slain. Their waters were fished, 
their houses beaten down for fire-wood : if the Eng- 
lishmen had arrived in the country, they could not 
nor would not have done more great destruction or 
hurt than the Frenchmen themselves did : and they 



294 The Invasion of England 

said to the poor men, " Sirs, we have now no silver 
to pay, but when we return we shall have enough, 
and then ye shall be clearly paid." 

But the poor people, when they saw their goods 
taken and spent away, and durst not speak there- 
against, they cursed between their teeth, saying, "Go 
into England, or to the Devil, and never return 
again ! " 

But now the French King came to Lille, and his 
two uncles with him, the Duke of Burgundy and 
the Duke of Bourbon, and other great lords, in 
such number that I can never name them all. The 
Duke of Berry was behind, in his own country, and 
Sir Oliver Clisson was in Brittany, ordaining his 
navy, and was to bring with him the enclosure for 
the camp, made of timber, which they ordained to 
be set up every night when they were once in 
England. 

And it was the opinion of divers, that if they 
might arrive all together in England, where they 
intended to land — and that was at Orwell haven — 
they should sore abash the country : and so they 
should without doubt. 

So the King approached, and it was said in Flan- 
ders, " They shall take shipping either on Saturday, 
Monday or Tuesday," so that in every day in the 
week it was said he should depart to-morrow, or 
the next day after. And yet all the season the 




Charles, King of France, on his Way to invade 
England 



The Invasion of Enofland 



295 



Duke of Berry was behind, and came but fair and 
easily, for he had no great appetite to go into Eng- 
land ; and his long tarrying was displeasing to the 
King and to the other lords. 

Still great provision was made, which was costly 
and dear : a thing not worth a franc was sold for 
four : howbeit for all that, money was not spared, 
for every man desired to be well stuffed with every- 
thing, in manner of envy, every man wishing to be 
better appointed than other. 

But though the great lords were well paid their 
wages, other poor companions bought the bargain, 
for they were owing for a month's wages, and yet 
could get nothing : the Treasurer of the Wars and 
Clerks of the Chamber of Accounts said, " Sirs, 
abide till the next week and then ye shall be paid : " 
and so they were answered weekly ; and if any pay- 
ment were made to them, it was but for eight days, 
and eight weeks were owing. And some would ask 
when they should depart ; and ever it was said to 
them, " Within three or four days," or " When 
the Duke of Berry is come, and we have wind to 
serve us." 

So ever the time passed, and the days shortened, 
and began to be foul and cold, and the nights 
long : wherewith divers of the lords were not con- 
tent to tarry so long; and also their provisions 
diminished. 



296 The Invasion of England 

The Flemings would gladly have had them not 
return again through their country : and they said 
one to another : " Why the devil doth not the 
French King pass over into England ? Why tar- 
rieth he so long in this country ? Are we not in 
poverty enough ? We think they will not pass into 
England this year, for the realm of England is 
not so easy to be won : Englishmen be not of the 
condition of Frenchmen. And what will they do in 
England ? When the Englishmen were in France, 
and over-rode their countries, then the Frenchmen 
hid themselves in their fortresses, and fled before 
them as the lark doth before the hawk." 

And in the town of Bruges, where most resort 
was of the Frenchmen, they murmured, and were 
ready, for wagging of a rush, to make debate and 
strife ; and all began by the French lackeys, who 
had beaten and hurt some of the Flemings : so that 
if the honest men of the town had not armed them- 
selves, and drawn into the market-place to appease 
the riot, there had not a lord, knight nor squire 
of France escaped unslain. The Frenchmen there 
were in such fear that they closed themselves in their 
lodgings, there to abide their adventure. 



The Invasion of England 297 

How the voyage into England was broken by reason of 
the winds and of winter, and by counsel of the Duke 
of Berry 

Then the Duke of Berry heard Mass in our 
Lady's Church in Paris, and there took his leave, 
and said how he would never enter there again till he 
had been in England. Howbeit, for all his words, 
he thought the contrary, for he had no desire thereto, 
for the winter season was sore come on : and all the 
way, as he came, he had letters from the King, and 
from the Duke of Burgundy, hastening him, and 
certifying him how they tarried for nothing else but 
for his coming. So the Duke of Berry rode always 
forward, but it was but by small journeys. 

The Constable of France departed from the city 
of Treguier, with great number of men of arms and 
provision : he had a seventy two ships, and with him 
he had the enclosure for the camp, made of timber. 
They had good wind at the beginning, but when 
they approached near to England, the wind rose 
fierce and great : and at the entry of Margate, at 
Thames* mouth, the wind was so great that, whether 
they would or not, their ships parted, so that not 
twenty abode together, and some were driven per- 
force into Thames, and there were taken by the 
Englishmen. 

And specially there were taken three or four ships 



298 The Invasion of England 

laden with part of the enclosure of timber ordained 
to close in the camp, and certain masters, carpenters 
and artificers with them : and so they were brought 
to London, whereof the King had great joy, and so 
had all the Londoners. And seven of the Con- 
stable's ships, with all the provision, were driven 
with the wind, and taken in Zealand : and the Con- 
stable and other lords with great pain came to Sluys 
to the French King. 

Of the Constable's coming and his company, the 
French King was right joyful and said to him : " Sir 
Constable, when shall we depart ? Certainly we 
have great desire to see England : wherefore, I pray 
you, advance all our business in hasty manner, and 
let us enter into the sea shortly : mine uncle the 
Duke of Berry will be here with us within these 
three days : he is at Lille.'* 

" Sir," said the Constable, " we cannot depart till 
the wind serve us, for the wind is so sore against us, 
and so strainable, that the mariners say they have 
heard none such for a great season before." 

" Constable," said the King, " I have been in my 
vessel, and it pleaseth me greatly, the air of the sea : 
I believe I shall be a good mariner, for the sea did 
me no hurt." 

" In the name of God ! " said the Constable, " it 
hath done hurt to me, for, Sir, we were in great peril 
coming from Brittany hither." 



The Invasion of England 299 

The King demanded, " How so ? " 

Then the Constable said, " By fortune of the sea, 
and great winds that rose against us : and, Sir, we 
have lost of our ships and men, whereof I am right 
sorry." 

Thus the King and the Constable devised to- 
gether in words : and always the time passed, and 
the winter approached, and the lords lay there in 
great cold and peril. 

So finally the Duke of Berry came to Sluys to the 
King ; and the King said to him : " Ah ! fair uncle, 
how greatly I have desired to see you : why have 
you tarried so long ? We had been now in Eng- 
land, and fought with our enemies, if ye had been 
come." 

The Duke began to smile and to excuse himself, 
and shewed not immediately what lay in his heart : 
first he thought he would see what provisions and or- 
dinance was made, and see the navy that was named 
so goodly. So they were there a seven days; and 
every day it was said, " We shall depart to-morrow." 

Howbeit, surely the wind was so contrary that in 
no wise they could sail into England : winter was 
well on, it was past St. Andrew's tide, it was no good 
season for so many noblemen to take the sea, though 
many of their ships were making cruises in readiness 
to depart. Then the King's council drew together to 
see how they should persevere in their journey : but 



300 The Invasion of England 

the Duke of Berry brake all, and shewed so many- 
reasons reasonable, that such as had most desire to 
go were greatly discouraged. 

He said it was a great folly to counsel the French 
King, who in a manner was but a child, to take the 
sea in that season of the year, " and to go fight with 
such people as we know not their condition, nor the 
way thither : and, as it is said, it is an evil country 
to make war in, for though we were all there a-land, 
yet they would not fight with us but when they 
listed, and we dare not then leave our provision 
behind us, for if we do it will be lost. And they 
that will make such a voyage so far off, have need 
to begin in the heart of the year, and not in winter : 
call all the mariners together, and look if they will 
not say that my words be good. For though we be 
now a thousand and five hundred ships, yet before 
we come there we shall not be three hundred : then 
behold what peril we shall put ourselves in ! 

" I say it not because I would have the journey 
left ; but I speak it by way of counsel : and since 
the most part of the realm inclineth to this journey, 
therefore, fair brother of Burgundy, I would that 
you and I should go ; but I would not counsel that 
the King should go, for if any misfortune should 
befall, it shall be laid to us." 

" Well," said the French King, who was present 
at all these words, " if none will go, I will go." 




The Duke of Burgundy returning Home 



The Invasion of England 301 

Then the lords began to smile and said, " The 
King hath a courageous will ! " 

Howbeit they took counsel to defer that voyage 
till April or May next after, and their provisions, 
such as biscuit, powdered flesh and wine, should be 
kept safely till then : and so brake the voyage for 
that season, the which cost the realm of France a 
hundred thousand francs thirty times told. 



How King Charles of France and the French lords re- 
turned ill-content from Sluys, where their provisions were 
made to have gone into the realm of England : and of the 
feast that was made in London 

Then there might well have been seen lords and 
knights sore displeased, and specially such as were 
of far countries, and had sore travailed their bodies, 
and spent their money, in trust to have had a good 
season : such as the Earl of Savoy, the Earl of 
Armagnac, and the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne, and 
a hundred other great lords, that departed in great 
displeasure, because they had not been in England. 
In likewise so did the French King : but he could 
not amend it. 

So thus departed all manner of people, some 
merry, and some greatly displeased and angry : and 
the officers abode still there behind, to make shift 
to sell their provisions for their masters' profit ; but 



302 The Invasion of England 

they wist not to whom nor where, for it that cost a 
hundred francs was sold for ten francs, and for less 
money. The Earl Dauphin of Auvergne said unto 
me, that by his faith, he had there provisions, the 
which cost him ten thousand francs, and when he 
returned homeward again, he lost all together: and 
so said many knights and squires, and other people 
of France. 

And when these things were known in the realm 
of England, some were right joyful and glad thereof, 
such people as feared the Frenchmen's coming: and 
some were angry and displeased therewith, which 
was such people as thought to have some promotion 
and profit by them. 

So then there was made at the City of London a 
great feast, and thither came all the lords such as 
had kept the ports and passages of the realm of 
England. 

And then the King held also a noble feast at 
Westminster, on Christmas Day, and there were 
three dukes made. First the Earl of Cambridge 
was made the Duke of York : the Earl of Bucking- 
ham, his brother, was made Duke of Gloucester : 
and the third was the Earl of Oxford, and he was 
made Duke of Ireland. This feast endured long, 
with great revels and triumphs. 

So thus the people of the realm of England, as 
they themselves thought, had escaped a great peril : 



The Invasion of England 303 

and then divers of them said among themselves that 
they would never set any more account by the 
Frenchmen, and they thought that all the assembly 
of the Frenchmen, that was made at Sluys, was but 
to fright the Englishmen, and to have caused the 
Duke of Lancaster and his company to return again 
out of Spain. 



THE CAPTURE OF THE FLEET FROM 
LA^ ROCHELLE 



XI. THE CAPTURE OF THE FLEET 
FROM LA ROCHELLE 

Of the battle on the sea between the Englishmen and Sir 
John de Bucq, Admiral for the Duke of Burgundy 

HERE before ye have heard how the French 
King's army by the sea, prepared to have 
gone into England, was broken up : not by 
the French King's will, for always he shewed good 
courage to have passed into England, and when he saw 
how the journey brake, he was more displeased than 
any of them. All the fault was laid upon the Duke 
of Berry : howbeit it was to be thought that he saw 
more deeplier into the matter than any other, and 
that his counselling to leave the journey was for 
the honour and profit of the realm of France. For 
whoever enterprises to do a thing, ought to regard 
what end may come thereof; and the Duke of 
Berry had been -before so long in England, as host- 
age for the King his father, and had been so con- 
versant among the Englishmen, and had seen so 
much of the country, that he knew by reason what 
effect the going into England should have come to. 
The cause most excusable not to go, was, because 

307 



3o8 Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 

winter was so far run : but then it was said that the 
Constable of France should go the next summer 
into England with a six thousand men of arms and 
as many crossbows : for it was thought by himself, 
and said, that that number was sufficient to fight 
with the Englishmen, and by reason the Constable 
ought to have known it, for he had been nourished 
in England in his young days. Then it was also 
determined to send succours into Castile, to aid the 
King there against the King of Portugal and the 
Duke of Lancaster, for it was thought that shortly 
there should be some deeds of arms, for the English- 
men kept the field. 

But while the knights and squires of France pre- 
pared them to go into Castile — for there were 
many that desired deeds of arms — the same season 
the Englishmen were on the sea between England 
and Flanders ; and Richard Earl of Arundel was 
their Admiral, and in his company were the Earl of 
Devonshire, and the Earl of Nottingham and the 
Bishop of Norwich : they were a five hundred men 
of arms and a thousand archers. They had lain at 
anchor a great season abiding some adventure, and 
had oftentimes revictualled themselves on the coast 
of England and about the isles of Cornwall, Brittany 
and Normandy; and they were sore displeased that 
the fleet of Flanders was escaped from them, and was 
gone to La Rochelle, and specially that the Con- 







txo 

c 



Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 309 

stable of France was gone from Treguier to Sluys, 
and passed by Calais, and they met not with him ; 
for gladly they would have fought with him. The 
Constable had so many ships as they, but they 
passed by them by reason of the wind and the flood 
that they had in the night time. 

The English navy lay at anchor before Margate 
at the Thames* mouth, towards Sandwich, abiding 
their adventure, and specially abiding for the ships 
that were gone to La Rochelle ; for they thought 
they would shortly return. And so they did, for 
when the merchants of Flanders, of La Rochelle, 
of Hainault and other places, departed out of 
Flanders, they promised each other, for fear of the 
Englishmen, to go and to return together, and to 
take each other's part ; and when they had all done 
their business in La Rochelle, and in the country 
of Saintonge, and had charged their ships with 
wines, then as soon as they had good wind they 
disanchored, and departed out of the haven of La 
Rochelle, and took their way by the sea to go into 
Flanders, and to Sluys, and to the other places from 
whence they departed. 

They sailed so long that they passed Ras-Saint- 
Matthieu in Brittany without peril or damage, and 
so coasted lower Brittany and then Normandy, and 
so came right over the Thames' mouth, where the 
English navy lay. 



3IO Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 

The Flemings perceived where they lay, and 
those in the high ships said to their company, " Sirs, 
advise you well, we shall be met by the English 
army : they have perceived us, they will take the 
advantage of the wind and tide; we shall have 
battle before it be night." 

The tidings pleased not well all parties, and 
specially the merchants of Flanders, of Hainault, 
and of other countries, who had their merchandise 
there aboard, they would gladly have been thence 
if they might. Howbeit, since they saw no remedy 
but fight, they ordered themselves thereto ; and 
they were crossbows and other men defensibly 
arrayed more than seven hundred. And among 
them there was a valiant knight of Flanders, who 
was their captain, and was then Admiral of the sea, 
set there by the Duke of Burgundy, called Sir John 
de Bucq, right sage and hardy in arms, and he had 
done before great damage to the Englishmen on the 
sea. 

This Sir John de Bucq set everything in good 
order, and decked his ships well and wisely, as he 
that could right well do it, and said, " Sirs, be not 
abashed : we are men enough to fight with the 
English army, and the wind will serve us, so that 
ever as we be fighting we shall approach nearer and 
nearer to Sluys, and shall coast Flanders." Some 
took good comfort with these words, and some not : 



Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 311 

so they put themselves in good order and defence, 
and made ready their crossbows and guns. 

The English ships approached ; and they had 
certain galleys furnished with archers, and these 
came foremost rowing with oars, and gave the first 
assault. The archers shot fiercely, and lost much 
of their shot; for the Flemings covered them under 
the decks, and would not appear, but drave ever 
forward with the wind : and when they were out of 
the English archers' shot, then they did let fly their 
bolts from the crossbows, wherewith they hurted 
many. 

Then approached the great ships of England, the 
Earl of Arundel with his company and the Bishop 
of Norwich with his : and so the other lords. They 
rushed in among the Flemings' ships and them of 
La Rochelle; yet the Flemings and crossbows de- 
fended themselves right valiantly, for their patron 
Sir John de Bucq did ever support them : he was in 
a great strong ship, wherein he had three guns shoot- 
ing so great stones, that wheresoever they lighted 
they did great damage. And ever as they fought 
they drew little and little towards Flanders ; and 
some little ships, with their merchants, took the 
coast of Flanders, and the low water, and thereby 
saved them, for the great ships could not follow them 
for lack of water. 

Thus on the sea there was a hard battle, and ships 



312 Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 

broken and sunken on both sides : for out of the 
tops they cast down great bars of iron, sharpened, 
so that they went through to the bottom. This w^as 
a hard battle, and well fought, for it endured three 
whole tides : and when the day failed they withdrew 
each from other, and cast anchor, and there rested 
all night, and dressed their hurt men, and when the 
flood came, they disanchored and drew up sails, and 
returned again to the battle. 

With the Englishmen was Peter du Bois of Ghent, 
with certain archers and mariners : he gave the 
Flemings much ado, for he had been a mariner, 
wherefore he knew the art of the sea, and he was 
sore displeased that the Flemings and merchants 
endured so long. But always the Englishmen won 
advantage of the Flemings, and so came between 
Blankenburg and Sluys, against Cadsand ; there was 
the discomfiture, for the Flemings were not suc- 
coured by any creature; and also at that time there 
were no ships at Sluys, nor men of war. 

True it is, there was a squire, a man of arms, at 
Sluys, called Arnold Le Maire, who when he heard 
how there was a battle on the sea between the army 
of England and them of Flanders, took a bark of his 
own and entered therein, and with him certain men 
of Sluys, and twenty crossbows, and rowed by force 
till he came to the battle. But that was at the point 
of the discomfiture, for by that time the EngUshmen 



Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle ^^3 

were possessed of the most part of the Flemish 
ships, and had taken Sir John de Bucq their Ad- 
miral, and his ship and all that were within it, and 
of other ships a hundred and thirty: and when this 
Arnold Le Maire saw the manner of that battle, he 
made his crossbows to shoot three times, and then 
returned, and was chased into the haven of Sluys; 
but the Englishmen's ships were so great that they 
could not approach so near land as the bark did, and 
thereby he saved himself and his company. 

The men of the town of Sluys were sore abashed 
when they heard of those tidings, so that they wist 
not what to do, whether to give up their town and 
forsake all, or else to enter into the ships that lay 
there, and so defend the haven. 

Surely, if the Englishmen had known the case 
they were in, they had been lords of the town and 
of the castle : or if they had believed Peter du Bois, 
for he sore counselled them that they should imme- 
diately set on the town of Sluys. They had won it 
if they had so done, but they had no courage thereto, 
but said, " It were a great folly for us to enter into 
the town of Sluys, for then they of Bruges, of 
Damme and of Ardembourg, shall come and be- 
siege us, and so peradventure we shall lose all that 
we have won : it is better for us to keep it, and to 
make wise war, than foolishly to lose all." 

Thus the Englishmen still kept the sea, but they 



314 Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 

determined to burn the navy of ships that lay at 
anchor in the haven of Sluys. Of such ships as 
they had won they took part, such as were most old 
and dry, and lightest, and greased them well both 
within and without, and set fire on them, and so 
let them go with the wind and with the tide into 
the haven, to the intent that they should have fas- 
tened, and set fire on other ships that lay there, of 
Spain and of other places : howbeit, as God willed, 
that fire did no hurt nor damage to none other ship. 

By this discomfiture of Sir John de Bucq as he 
came from La Rochelle, the Englishmen had great 
profit, specially in wine, for they had a nine thou- 
sand tuns of wine ; whereby wine was the dearer all 
the year after in Flanders, Holland and Brabant, 
and the better cheap in England, as it was reason. 
Such are the chances of this world ; if one have 
damage, another hath profit. 

The Englishmen still lay before Sluys at an an- 
chor ; and sometimes with their barks and barges 
they went a-land on the other side against Sluys, 
where there was but a river to pass, and there they 
burnt a minster and other towns, along on the sea- 
side, and on the dykes, and took men prisoners in 
the country. They were there lying a ten days, 
and laid ambushes between Damme and Sluys, on 
the road to Coxye : and there was taken John de 
Launay, a man of arms of Tournai, with the Lord 



Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 315 

of Estrynay, and Sir Blanquart of Coulogne, who 
came there on the spur from Tournai with forty 
spears. 

And also Sir Robert Marchant, a knight of Flan- 
ders, was then at Bruges, when the tidings spread 
abroad of the Englishmen : he departed and came 
to Sluys and entered into the castle, which he found 
in small defence, for such as should have defended 
the town were so abashed that there was no man 
took any heed of defence. 

Then this knight gave them heart and said, " Ah ! 
ye Sirs, and good men of Sluys, how maintain ye 
yourselves, Vv^hen ye shew yourselves discomfited 
without any stroke striking ? Men of valour and 
of good defence ought not so to do : they should 
shew forth a good visage as long as they could en- 
dure : at the least till they are slain or taken : 
thereby they should attain to the grace of God, and 
praise of the world." Thus said this Sir Robert 
when he came to Sluys. 

In the mean season all the country as far as 
Bruges was afraid, for the Englishmen were every 
day abroad a-foraging on foot, for they had no 
horses : and sometimes they would enter far into 
the country, and did there what they list, and might 
have done more if they had known what case the 
country was in. 

And when they had tarried there at their pleas- 



3i6 Capture of the Fleet from La Rochelle 

ure, and saw that no man came against them, then 
they took their ships, and drew up sails, and so re- 
turned into England with two hundred thousand 
francs of profit, and so came into Thames straight 
to London, where they were received with great 
joy. For the good wines of Poitou and Saintonge, 
that were intended to have been drunk in Flanders, 
in Hainault, in Brabant and in divers other places 
in Picardy, the Englishmen brought all with them 
into England ; wine was sold then for four pence 
the gallon. 

Certain merchants of Zuric-See in Zealand lost 
part of the said wine, but they had restitution made 
to them of all their losses, for they of Zuric-See 
would never agree to go to make war into England, 
nor would suffer none of their ships to go on that 
journey, whereby they attained great love from the m 
Englishmen. I 

Sir John de Bucq was put in prison courteously 
at London ; he might go where he listed, but every 
night he must lodge in the city. He could never 
come to his ransom, though the Duke of Burgundy 
would gladly have had him by exchange for a 
brother of the King of Portugal. Thus Sir John 
de Bucq was prisoner three years in England, and 
there died. 



THE ADVENTURE OF SIR PIERS 
COURTENAY 



XII. THE ADVENTURE OF SIR PIERS 
COURTENAY 

How Sir Piers Courtenay came into France to do arms 
with Sir Guy de la Tremouille, and how the Lord de 
Clary conveyed him, and by what occasion he did arms 
with him in the marches of Calais 

IN the days of King Charles the Fifth of France, 
there was an English knight called Sir Piers 
Courtenay, a valiant knight in arms, who came 
out of England into France to Paris, and demanded 
to do arms with Sir Guy de la Tremouille, in the 
presence of the King or of such as would see them. 
Sir Giiy would not refuse his offer, and in the 
presence of the King and of other lords they were 
armed on a day and ran together one course, and 
then the King would not suffer them to run again 
together ; wherewith the English knight was right 
ill-content, for as he shewed he would have borne 
out his challenge to the uttermost : but he was 
appeased with fair words, and it was said to him 
that he had done enough, he ought to be content 
therewith. 

319 



320 The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 

The King and the Duke of Burgundy gave him 
fair gifts and presents. Then he returned again 
towards Calais ; and the Lord de Clary, who was 
a frisky and a lusty knight, was charged to convey 
him. They rode so long together that they came 
to Lucen, where the Countess of St. Pol lay, sister 
to King Richard of England. 

The lady was joyful of the coming thither of Sir 
Piers Courtenay, for she had married first his cousin 
the Lord Courtenay ; but he died young, and after- 
wards she married the Earl of St. Pol. The English- 
men called her Lady Courtenay, and not Countess 
of St. Pol. 

Thus Sir Piers Courtenay and the Lord de Clary 
were at Lucen in Artois with the Countess of 
St. Pol, who was right joyous of their coming, and 
as they talked of many things the Countess de- 
manded of Sir Piers what he thought;, of the state 
of France. ^ 

He answered and said, " Certainly, Madame, the 
states of France are well and goodly served : we 
cannot be so served in our country." 

" Sir," quoth the lady, " do the lords of France 
and the manner there content you ? Have they not 
made you good cheer ? " 

" Surely, Madame," quoth he, " their cheer con- 
tenteth me passingly well ; but in the purpose that 
I passed the sea for, they have but easily acquitted 




Sir Piers Courtenay and Sir Guy de la Tremouille 
jousting before the Court of France 



The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 321 

me : and, Madame, I will ye to know, that if the 
Lord of Clary here present had come into England, 
and desired to have done arms with any man, he 
should not have departed before he had been an- 
swered at his pleasure : but I am served to the 
contrary. True it was. Sir Guy de la Tremouille 
and I were armed in the field against each other, 
and ran together but one course ; then it was shewed 
me from the King that we should do no more, say- 
ing how we had done enough : wherefore, Madame, 
I say, and will say wheresoever I be come, that I 
could find none to do arms with me, and that was 
not in my default, but in the knights of France." 

The Lord de Clary noted well his words, and held 

his peace with great pain ; howbeit he suffered him, 

because he had the charge of the conveyance of him. 

^ Then the Countess said : " Sir, ye departed right 

honourably from France, when ye obeyed the King's 

\ desire ; for ye could do no more, since it was his 
pleasure that ye should not. In coming, returning 
and doing, as ye have done, none can lay any fault 
in you ; all such as shall hear thereof, on this side 
the sea or on the other, shall repute in you more 
honour than blame ; wherefore, Sir, I entreat you, 
be content therewith." 

" Madame," quoth the knight, " so I do, and 
shall do ; I shall never take thought for it." Thus 
they left that matter, and fell in other talking. 



322 The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 

There he tarried all that day and night : the next 
morning Sir Piers Courtenay took his leave of the 
Countess of St. Pol, and she gave him at his depart- 
ing a little chain of gold, and to the Lord de Clary 
another : thus in the morning they departed from 
Lucen, and took the way to Boulogne, and came 
thither, and there lay all night, and the next day 
rode towards Marquise, to go to Calais. 

Between Boulogne and Calais are but seven or 
eight leagues, and fair level way. When they came 
near to Calais, there Sir Piers Courtenay said to the 
Lord of Clary, "Sir, we be now in the King of Eng- 
land's land, and ye have well acquitted you in the 
conveyance of me, and for your company I thank 
you." 

The Lord de Clary, who had displeasure in his 
heart for the words that Sir Piers had spoken at 
Lucen, in the presence of the Countess of St. Pol 
and others, thought he would not suffer those words 
to rest in that case, for he reputed them too 
haughty and too high against the honour of the 
chivalry of France: for he understood him that he 
said how he was come out of England into France 
to do arms, and how there were none that would 
answer him. 

Then the Lord de Clary at their leave-taking said: 
" Sir Piers, ye be now in the King of England's 
land : and, Sir, I have conveyed you hither by the 



The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay ^2^ 

commandment of the King my master, and of the 
Dukeof Burgundy, and ye remember well this last day 
when we were in the Countess of St. Pol's chamber, 
who made us good cheer, ye spake there over largely, 
as me thinketh, to the great prejudice and blame of 
the knights of France : for ye said how ye came 
from the King's Court, and could find none there to 
do arms with you ; by the which words may be un- 
derstood that there is no knight in France that dare 
do arms or joust with you three courses with a spear. 
Wherefore, Sir, I will that ye know, that here I offer 
myself, though 1 be one of the most simplest 
knights in all France, and I say and justify, that the 
realm of France is not so void of knights but that 
ye shall well find enough to do deeds of arms with 
you ; and, Sir, if ye list, ye shall find me ready to 
answer you, be it immediately this night or to-mor- 
row. I say not this for any hatred that I have to 
your person ; I do it all only to maintain the honour 
of our party ; for I would not that ye should re- 
turn to Calais, or into England, to make your vaunt 
that without stroke stricken ye had discomfited the 
knights of France. Sir, answer me, if it please you, 
to my words." 

Sir Piers Courtenay was soon counselled what 
answer to make and said, " Sir de Clary, ye speak 
well, and I accept your demand, and I will that to- 
morrow in this same place ye be armed at your 



324 The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 

pleasure, and I shall be in like wise, and then let us 
run each at other three courses with a spear, and 
thereby ye shall win again the honour of the French 
Court, and ye shall do me a great pleasure." 

" Sir," quoth the Lord de Clary, " I promise you 
I shall not fail to be here at the hour ye have 
assigned." 

Thus these two knights promised each other to 
joust. The Lord de Clary returned to Marquise, 
and there provided him with armour, shield, spear 
and horse : he had anon all that he lacked, for on 
the frontiers of Calais and Boulogne men were soon 
provided : there he made his provision as shortly 
as he might, for he would not that over many should 
know thereof. In like manner Sir Piers Courtenay, 
when he came to Calais, forgot not the promise that 
he had made, but provided him with good armour 
and with everything else ; as for harness, he had 
ready such as he had carried with him out of Eng- 
land into France. 

At that time Sir John Warnes was Captain of 
Calais : Sir Piers showed him the promise that was 
made between him and the Lord de Clary. Then 
Sir John Warnes said how he would accompany 
him thither, and other good fellows of Calais. 

The next day these two knights came to the place 
appointed ; the English knight came much better 
accompanied than did the French knight, for the 



The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 325 

Captain of Calais was with him. When they were 
come together there were but few words between them : 
they knew well enough wherefore they were come. 

They were both well armed and horsed, and took 
their shields : then they took their spears with sharp 
heads well filed, and spurred their horses, and ran 
together. 

The first course they failed, wherewith they were 
both sore displeased : at the second they met so 
together, that the Lord de Clary struck the English 
knight through the targe and through the shoulder 
a handful, and therewith he fell from his horse to 
the earth. The Lord de Clary passed forward and 
kept his course, and turned and stood still ; for he 
saw well how the English knight was unhorsed, and 
how that many men were about him ; he thought 
surely then that he was hurt, for his spear was broken 
in pieces. 

Then he rode to them, and the Englishmen came 
to the Lord de Clary and said, " Sir, ye be no cour- 
teous jouster." 

" Wherefore ? " quoth the Lord de Clary. 

" Because," quoth they, " ye have hurt this 
knight*s shoulder : ye might more courteously have 
jousted." 

" Sirs," quoth he, " that courtesy lay not in me, 
seeing that I was apparelled to joust ; for the same 
case, or worse, might have fallen to me as well as to 



326 The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 

him : howbeit. Sir, I beg you to demand of him, or 
else will I, whether he will do any more or not." 

Then Sir John Warnes said, " Nay, nay. Sir Knight, 
ye may depart when ye list; ye have done enough." 

Then the Lord de Clary departed with his com- 
pany, and the Englishmen led Sir Piers Courtenay 
to Calais, to be healed of his hurts ; and the Lord 
de Clary returned into France, thinking that he had 
right well done, and that he should have had for 
that deed great laud and praise : but I shall shew 
you what fell thereof 

When tidings came to the French King, and to 
the Duke of Burgundy, and to their council, how 
that the Lord de Clary had done arms with Sir Piers 
Courtenay, in returning to Calais, so that the said 
Sir Piers was hurt and in peril of death, the King 
and the Duke, and especially Sir Guy de la Tre- 
mouille, were sore displeased with the Lord de Clary, 
and said how he had done, at the least, as much as 
to lose his lands, and to be banished the realm of 
France for ever, without repeal : and some others, 
such as willed him no good will, said how he had 
done like a false traitor, seeing that a strange knight 
under the King's safeguard had been required by 
him to do deeds of arms, and by that means brought 
to the jeopardy of death : they said such a deed 
ought not to be pardoned. 

The Lord de Clary was sent for : he came to the 



The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 327 

King and to the Duke of Burgundy : there he was 
examined and laid to his charge, and demanded how 
he durst be so outrageous to a knight stranger that 
was come to the King's Court for good love and to 
exalt his honour, to do feats of arms ; and departed 
thence with good love and joy : and to the intent 
that he should not be troubled by the way, in his 
returning was delivered to him to conduct : and 
then, at the parting of both realms, he to be so bold 
as to do arms with him in field of battle or jousts 
mortal, without licence of his sovereign lord, of 
whom he holdeth his land. It was shewed him the 
trespass was so great that it was not to be pardoned, 
but to be punished so highly, that all others should 
take ensample thereby. 

The Lord de Clary, when he heard those words, 
he was abashed, for he thought he had done well, 
and looked to have had thanks : then he said: " My 
lords, it is of truth. Sir Piers Courtenay was deliv- 
ered to me, to conduct and to keep him company 
till he came to Calais or to the frontiers thereof: 
and of all that I had in charge I have well and truly 
acquitted myself; and if need be I shall prove it 
by the witness of himself. And true it was, that 
by the way when we came to Lucen to the Countess 
of St. Pol, who received vis and made us good cheer, 
there Sir Piers Courtenay had certain words, as I shall 
shew you. 



328 The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 

" The Countess demanded of him and said, ' Sir 
Piers Courtenay, how are ye content with the lords 
of France, and with the manner of France ? ' He 
answered courteously and said, ' Madame, the man- 
ner of France is right noble and goodly; as for the 
lords of France I am right well content with their 
cheer, except in one thing ; and that is, that with 
great pain and travail and great cost, I have issued 
out of England to do deeds of arms, and so came to 
the French King's Court ; but there I found not 
with whom to do arms.' 

" Thus, my lords, when I heard him say so in 
the presence of so noble a lady as the Countess of 
St. Pol, sister to the King of England, the words 
were right heavy to me to bear : howbeit, I suffered 
them for that time, because I had the charge of the 
conveyance of him. I never made semblance 
thereof to him as long as we were in company 
together within the realm of France ; but at our 
leave-taking in the marches of Calais, true it is, 
then I laid unto him the said words, and said how 
they were not courteously spoken, nor honourably : 
for the words sounded that the chivalry of France 
was so abated, that none durst do deeds of arms 
with him. 

" Then I said, if he would abide thereby, that I 
was one of the knights of France, born of the na- 
tion ; and I said I would not that he should make 



The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 329 

his vaunt in England, that he could not find in 
France, nor by the way, with whom to do arms : 
therefore I said I was ready, and desired to do arms 
with him, and to fulfil his pleasure and desire, so as 
to run three courses with a spear, the same day or 
the next. 

" Certainly, my lords, I said these words for the 
honour of the realm of France, and the chivalry 
thereof: and methought he had great joy thereof, 
and accepted to do arms with me the next day, and 
so did I. 

" And the next day we met at the same place : he 
was accompanied by them of the garrison of Calais, 
and with me there were certain of the frontiers 
there, knights and squires, such as the Lord of 
Montkarel and Sir John de Longvilliers. There 
we jousted together as well as we could, and the 
adventure of arms fell so, that at the second course 
I struck him through the shoulder, so that he fell 
to the earth : then 1 returned again to know if he 
would do any more : then the Captain of Calais 
said it was suf^cient that was done, and that I might 
depart when I listed. Then I returned : and I be- 
lieved I had right well done, and well defended the 
honour of the realm of France, and of the knights 
therein. 

" Thus I have shewed you the very truth of this 
deed : for my well-doing of this if punishment shall 



330 The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 

follow, I report me and will abide the judgment of 
my Lord the Constable and my Lords the High 
Marshals of France, and beside that I report me to 
the will and discretion of the knight himself, at 
whose request I did these arms : and also I report 
me to all knights and squires of honour, both of 
France and of England, credibly informed of the 
whole matter." 

When the Lord de Clary had shewed the matter, 
and sagely made his excusations, as ye have heard, 
it greatly assuaged the ire and displeasure of them 
that had complained of him. Howbeit, for all his 
words and excusations he could not be delivered, 
but was committed to prison, and there tarried a 
long season in great danger of losing of all his lands, 
and to be banished for ever : but the Lord de Coucy 
and the Duke of Bourbon, they laboured sore for 
his deliverance, and, with much pains, they made 
his peace, with the aid of the Countess of St. Pol, 
before whom the words were spoken. 

Then at his deliverance it was said to him : " Sir 
de Clary, ye supposed to have done right well : 
howbeit ye did shamefully, when ye offered to do 
arms with Sir Piers Courtenay, who was under the 
King's safeguard, and delivered to you to conduct 
to Calais, by the King's commandment : ye did a 
great outrage when ye renewed the words, the which 
were spoken but in sport before the Countess of 



The Adventure of Sir Piers Courtenay 331 

St. Pol. Before ye had done it, ye ought to have 
returned to the King, and have shewed him the 
words that sounded against the honour of the 
knights of France : and then what counsel the King 
had given you, ye ought to have followed : and 
because ye did not thus, ye have had this pain : be- 
ware better another time, and thank the Duke of 
Bourbon and the Lord de Coucy for your deliver- 
ance, for they have sore laboured for you, and also 
the lady of St. Pol." 

Quoth the Lord de Clary, " My lords, I thank 
you all : howbeit, I thought I had done well." 
Thus he departed. 



THE CHALLENGE OF THE THREE 
CHAMBERLAINS 



XIII. THE CHALLENGE OF THE 
THREE CHAMBERLAINS 

How the Jousts of St. Inglevere were enterprised by Sir 
Reginald de Roye, the young Sir Boucicaut and the Lord 
de Saimpi 

IN the year of Our Lord MCCCLXXXIX, 
King Charles the Sixth of France, seeing that 
he had truce with England for three years, 
had then imagination to go and visit the far parts 
of his realm ; and he went first into Burgundy, and 
to Avignon to see Pope Clement. 

And when he had been there a little space he de- 
parted and came to Montpellier, and there he tar- 
ried the space of twelve days ; for the order of the 
town and the pastime of ladies and damsels, such as 
he found there, pleased him greatly. 

To say truth, the King at that time was in his 
lusty youth, and light and quick of spirit : he 
danced and carolled among the frisky ladies and 
damsels of the town sometimes all night, and gave 
and made banquets and suppers largely, and would 
give to the ladies and damsels rings of gold and 
chains to them that he reputed worthy. The King 
did so much that he had great laud and praise : and 

335 



2^6 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

some of them would that he had tarried there longer 
than he did, for he kept revel, dancing and solace, 
and every day it was new to begin. 

Ye have heard oftentimes said, how the sport of 
ladies and damsels encourageth the hearts of 
young lusty gentlemen and causeth them to desire 
and to seek to get honour. I say this, because with 
the King were three gentlemen of high enterprise 
and of great valour, and that they well shewed, as 
ye shall hear. 

First there was the young Sir Boucicaut, the sec- 
ond Sir Reginald de Roye, and the third the Lord 
de Saimpi. These three knights were chamberlains 
with the King, and well beloved with him, for they 
were well worthy : they were fresh, and served him 
well in arms, and in all other matters. 

These three being with the King at Montpellier 
among the ladies and damsels, at a banquet that the 
King made to the ladies of the town, there was re- 
hearsed all the matter of the Lord de Clary and of 
Sir Piers Courtenay, as it hath been rehearsed here 
before in this history. Then these three valiant 
knights took on them to do deeds of arms in the 
frontier beside Calais, in the time of summer next 
after ; abiding all knights and squires, strangers, for 
the term of thirty days, whosoever would joust with 
them in jousts of peace or of war. 

And because the enterprise of these three knights 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 337 

seemed to the French King and his council to be 
an high enterprise, there it was said to them that 
they should put it in writing, because the King 
wished to see the articles thereof: that if they were 
too high or too outrageous, the King might amend 
them, because the King nor his council would not 
sustain anything that should be unreasonable. 

These three knights answered and said, " It is 
but reason that we do thus : it shall be done." 
Then they took a clerk and caused him to write as 
followeth : — 

" For the great desire that we have to come to 
the knowledge of noble gentlemen, knights and 
squires, strangers, as well on the frontiers of the 
realm of France, as elsewhere of far countries : we 
shall be at St. Inglevere, in the marches of Calais, 
the twentieth day of the month of May next com- 
ing, and there continue thirty days complete, the 
Fridays only excepted, and shall deliver from their 
vows all manner of knights and squires, gentlemen, 
strangers of any manner of nation, whatsoever they 
be, that will come thither for the breaking of five 
spears, either sharp or rockets at their pleasure : and 
outside our lodgings shall be the shields of our arms, 
both the shields of peace and of war : and whosoever 
will joust, let him come or send the day before, and 
with a rod touch which shield he please : if he touch 
the shield of war, the next day he shall joust in jousts 



^^S The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

mortal with which of the three he will, and if he 
touch the shield of peace he shall have the jousts of 
peace, so that whosoever touch any of the shields, 
shew or cause to be shewed his name to such as 
shall be there limited by us to receive the namies : 
and all such knights strangers as will joust, to bring 
some nobleman on their side, who shall be instructed 
by us what ought to be done in this case. 

"And we entreat all knights and squires, strangers, 
that will come and joust, that they think not nor 
imagine of us that we do this for any pride or ill- 
will ; but all only we do it to have their honourable 
company and acquaintance, the which with our entire 
hearts we desire. • 

" None of our shields shall be covered with iron 
or steel, nor none of theirs that will come to joust 
with us, nor shall there be any manner of frauds, 
advantage or evil device, but everything to be 
ordered by them that shall be committed by either 
party to govern the jousts. 

" And that all gentlemen, noble knights and 
squires, to whom this shall come to knowledge, 
may repute it firm and stable, we have sealed this 
present writing with the seals of our arms. Written 
at Montpellier, the twentieth day of November, in 
the year of Our Lord God a thousand three hun- 
dred, fourscore and nine, and signed thus : — 

" Reginald de Roye : Boucicaut : Saimpi." 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 339 

Of the high courage and enterprise of these three 
knights the French King was right joyful ; and 
before the matter went forward, everything was well 
examined and seen, that no fault should be therein 
found. 

Some of the King's council thought it was not 
reasonable that these arms should be done so near 
to Calais, for the Englishmen might take it for 
a presumption, " which," they said, " should be 
eschewed, because of the truce that is taken between 
England and France, to endure for three years : 
wherefore there ought nothing to be written nor 
done that should be occasion of any dissension to 
be had between the realms." 

The King's council rested on this matter a whole 
day, and wist not what to do : they would fain have 
broken it. Such as were sage said it were not good 
always to consent to the purpose of young people, 
for oftentimes thereby may grow incidents more evil 
than good : howbeit the King, who was young, in- 
clined greatly to these knights and said, " Let them 
do their enterprise, they are young and courageous, 
they have promised and sworn to do it before the 
ladies of Montpellier : we will that the matter go 
forward." 

When every man saw that it was the King's 
pleasure, there were none durst say against it ; 
wherefore the knights were right joyful ; and so it 



340 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

was concluded and agreed that the matter should go 
forward as the knights had written and sealed. 

Then the King sent for the three knights into his 
chamber apart and said to them, " Sirs, in all your 
doing regard wisely the honour of us and of our 
realm ; and to maintain your state spare nothing, 
for we shall not fail you for the expense of ten 
thousand francs." 

The three knights kneeled down before the King 
and thanked his Grace. 



Of the deeds of arms at St. Inglevere continuing thirty 
days against all comers of the realm of England and 
other countries ; every man three courses ; and first, 
of the arms done the first day 

In the beginning of the year next following, the 
three foresaid knights, who had enterprised to do 
arms about the marches of Calais, made them ready 
to accomplish their desire, and to fulfil their promise 
and the right of arms : for it was openly declared 
and published and specially in the realm of England : 
in the which realm there were knights and squires 
quickened to the matter, and in great imaginations 
to know what they might best do. 

Some said it should be greatly to their blame and 
reproach, such an enterprise taken so near to Calais, 
without they passed the sea and looked on those 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 341 

knights that should do arms there. Such as spake 
most of the matter were, first Sir John Holland, 
Earl of Huntingdon, who had great desire to go 
thither ; also Sir Piers Courtenay, Sir John Dray- 
ton, Sir John Walworth, Sir John Russell, Sir Peter 
Shirborne, Sir William Clifton, Sir Nicholas Clinton, 
Sir WiUiam Talboys, Sir Godfrey de Seca, Sir 
William Hackney, Sir John Vobeas, Sir John 
d'Ambreticourt, Sir Henry Beaumont and divers 
others, more than a hundred knights and squires. 

All these said, " Let us provide to go to Calais, 
for the knights of France have not ordained that 
sport so near our marches, but to the intent to see 
us there ; and surely they have done well, and do 
like good companions, and we shall not fail them at 
their business." 

This matter was so published abroad in England, 
that many such as had no desire to do deeds of 
arms themselves, yet said they would be there to 
look on them that should. Such as thought to be 
there, sent afore to Calais to make provision to 
keep their state, and sent over their horses and 
harness for peace and war. 

When the day approached, Sir John Holland, 
brother to the King of England, first passed the sea, 
and more than sixty knights and squires with him, 
and arrived at Calais, and there took up their 
lodgings. 



342 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

At the entering in of the jolly fresh month of 
May, these three young knights of France, such as 
should do deeds of arms at St. Inglevere, first came 
to Boulogne, and tarried there a season, and then 
came to the abbey of St. Inglevere. 

Then they understood how there were a great 
number of knights and squires come out of England 
to Calais, whereof they were right joyful : and to 
the intent that the report should come to Calais, 
they ordained in a fair plain between Calais and St. 
Inglevere three fresh green pavilions to be pitched: 
and at the entry of every pavilion there hanged 
two shields with the arms of the knights, one shield 
of peace, another of war : and it was ordained that 
such as should run and do deeds of arms should 
touch one of the shields, or cause one to be 
touched, whichever pleased them, and they should 
be delivered of their vows according: to their desire. 

To speak of this matter, I shall shew you all. 
The twenty-first day of the month of May, according 
as it had been published, these three French knights 
were ready in the place to furnish their enterprise : 
and the same day knights and squires issued out of 
Calais, such as would joust, and also such others as 
had pleasure to regard that sport : and they came 
to the said place appointed, and drew all on the one 
side : the place to joust in was fair, green and 
level. 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 34.3 

Sir John Holland first sent to touch the shield 
of war of Sir Boucicaut, who immediately issued out 
of his pavilion, ready mounted, with shield and 
spear. 

These two knights drew one from another a 
certain space : and when each of them had well 
aimed at the other, they spurred their horses and 
came together rudely, and Boucicaut struck the Earl 
of Huntingdon through the shield, and the spear 
head glinted over his arm and did him no hurt : 
and so they passed forth, and turned and rested : 
this course was greatly praised. The second course 
they met without any hurt doing : and the third 
course their horses refused and would not cope. 

The Earl of Huntingdon, who had great desire 
to joust, and was somewhat chafed, came to his 
place abiding for Sir Boucicaut to take his spear 
again ; but he did not, for he shewed that he would 
run no more that day against the Earl. 

When the Earl saw that, he sent his squire to 
touch the shield of war of the Lord de Saimpi, and 
he, that would not refuse, issued out of his pavilion, 
and took his horse, shield and spear : and when the 
Earl saw that he was ready, he spurred his horse, 
and Saimpi in like wise : they coached their spears, 
but at the meeting their horses crossed, but with the 
crossing of their spears the Earl was unhelmed. 

Then he returned to his men, and immediately he 



344 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

was rehelmedj and took his spear, and Saimpi his, 
and they ran again, and met each other with their 
spears in the midst of their shields, so that they 
were both nearly borne down to the earth ; but they 
gripped fast their horses with their legs, and so saved 
themselves, and returned to their places and took 
their breaths. 

Sir John Holland, who had great affection to do 
honourably, took again his spear and spurred his 
horse : and when the Lord de Saimpi saw him com- 
ing, he dashed forth his horse to encounter him : 
each of them struck the other on their helms, that 
the fire flashed out: with that blow the Lord de 
Saimpi was unhelmed : and so they passed forth and 
came again to their own places. 

This course was greatly praised; and both French 
and English said that those three knights, the Earl 
of Huntingdon, Sir Boucicaut and the Lord de 
Saimpi, had right well done their devoirs, without 
any damage from either to other. 

Again the Earl desired, for love of his lady, to 
have another course, but he was refused : then he 
went out of the rank, to give place to others, for he 
had run all his six courses well and valiantly, so that 
he had laud and honour of all parties. 

Then stepped forth a gentle knight of England, 
called the Earl Marshal : he sent to touch the shield 
of war of Sir Reginald de Roye, who issued out of 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 345 

his pavilion, armed at all pieces, and took his horse, 
shield and spear : and when these two knights were 
asunder, they spurred their horses and came fiercely 
together. 

The first course they failed, by the shying of their 
horses, wherewith they were sore displeased : at the 
second course Sir Reginald was struck, and the spear 
broken : at the third course each struck other on 
the helm with such force that the fire flew out, and 
the Earl Marshal was unhelmed. He passed forth 
and returned to his place and jousted no more that 
day, for he had done enough. 

Then came forth the Lord Clifford, a right apt 
and a valiant knight of England, cousin-german to 
Sir John Chandos, who was a noble valiant knight 
in his days : he sent to touch the shield of war of 
Sir Boucicaut; and incontinent the knight issued 
out of his pavilion with shield and spear. 

These two knights came rudely together, and 
struck each other on the helm, that fire sparkled : 
their spears brake not, nor the knights lost no stir- 
rups : they passed by and came to their places, 
and made them ready to run the second course, and 
so came together without any sparing. Sir Boucicaut 
broke his spear, and he was unhelmed and yet 
fell not : they passed forth and came to their 
places. 

Sir Thomas Clifford made him ready to joust 



346 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

again, but Boucicaut did not again put on his helm : 
seeing that, the Lord Clifford resolved to perform 
his course with another. Then he sent his squire 
to touch the shield of v/ar of the Lord de Saimpi, 
who came forth ready to joust. 

They ran together and met each other : the Lord 
Clifford broke his spear in three pieces on the Lord 
de Saimpi's shield, and the Lord de Saimpi struck 
the Lord Clifford on the helm, so that he was dis- 
helmed, and so passed forth : each of them drew to 
his place, and the Lord Clifford ran no more that 
day, for it was shewed him how he had right hon- 
ourably borne himself that day. 

Then came forth a noble knight of England, 
called Sir Henry Beaumont : he caused to be 
touched Sir Boucicaut's shield of war, who was soon 
ready to answer. 

They ran together : the Lord Beaumont crossed, 
and Boucicaut struck him so rudely, that he bore 
him to the earth, and passed forth : the knight was 
raised up by his men, and set again on horseback, 
and so they ran again together two other courses, 
without any damage. 

Then Sir Piers Courtenay, who had great desire 
to run six courses, caused his squire to touch all 
three shields of war, whereof the Frenchmen had 
marvel, and demanded what he intended thereby : 
he answered that it was his pleasure to run with 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 347 

each knight two courses, without he were hindered 
by the way. 

His desire was granted : then Sir Reginald de 
Roye ran first : they came together with good aim ; 
howbeit, the first course they failed, for their horses 
refused at the cope, wherewith they were sore dis- 
pleased : they failed not at the second course, but 
Sir Reginald dishelmed the English knight, and 
passed forth to his place, and held him still, for he 
had run his two courses. 

Then the Lord de SaimpI came forth to joust, 
and they ran each against other, and broke their 
spears : and the second course the Lord de Saimpi 
struck Sir Piers Courtenay across, and Sir Piers 
struck him on the helm and unhelmed him; and 
so they came to their own places. 

Then Sir Boucicaut, to accomplish Sir Piers' de- 
sire, came forth : and they ran and met each other 
in the midst of their shields so rudely, that both 
their horses staggered in the place; more hurt there 
was not. The second course they unhelmed each 
other. 

Those six courses done. Sir Piers Courtenay de- 
sired to run one course more with one of the three 
knights, whichever it pleased them : but he was 
refused, and it was said to him that he had done 
enough for that day ; so he rested. 

Then pressed forth a gentleman of England, 



34^ The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

called Sir John Walworth : he sent to touch the 
shield of Sir Reginald de Roye, who was ready to 
answer. 

They ran freely together, and struck each other 
on the helms, without dishelming or breaking of 
their spears ; and so passed by. 

The second course their horses refused to meet : 
the third course they met in their shields and broke 
their spear-staves : the fourth course they missed : 
the fifth course they unhelmed each other, and 
returned to their places. 

Then a valiant knight of England, called Sir 
John Russell, who was a well travelled knight and 
well known, he touched the shield of the Lord de 
Saimpi. 

The knight was ready to answer : they ran to- 
gether and met so rudely that their horses stayed 
with the force of the cope : at the second course 
their horses swerved aside and missed each other, 
whereof the knights were displeased : and the third 
course they met, and struck each other in the visor 
of their helms, so that they were both unhelmed : 
the English knight returned to his company and 
jousted no more. 

Then came forth Sir Peter Shirborne, a young 
knight, and touched the shield of Sir Boucicaut. 

The knight was ready, and they ran together and 
missed, by the shying of their horses : they tarried 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 349 

not long, but ran together again the second course, 
and struck each other in the sight of their helms : 
Sir Boucicaut's spear broke, the English knight's 
spear held ; so that thereby Sir Boucicaut was un- 
helmed so rudely that the blood ran out at his nose, 
and so he returned to his pavilion and ran no more 
that day, for it was near night. 

But Sir Peter Shirborne would not leave so, but 
would run out his third course. He sent to touch 
the shield of the Lord de Saimpi, who was immedi- 
ately ready. 

They ran together and struck each other on the 
helms, but their spears grated not ; if they had, by 
most likelihood they had taken hurt. The second 
course they struck each other on the shields, and 
broke their spear-staves in three pieces, and the 
English knight was borne to the earth : they ran no 
more that day, for it was near night. 

Then the Englishmen drew together, and de- 
parted, and rode to Calais, and there conversed that 
night of that which had been done that day. In 
like wise the Frenchmen rode to St. Inglevere, and 
communed of that which had been done the same 
day. 

Of the second day at St. Inglevere 

On the Tuesday, after Mass, all such as should 
joust that day, or would give the looking on, rode 



2SO The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

out of Calais and came to the place appointed ; and 
the Frenchmen were ready there to receive them : 
the day was fair and hot. 

When the Englishmen were armed, then Sir 
William Clifton, an expert knight of England, caused 
his squire to touch the targe of Sir Boucicaut. 

Incontinent the knight issued out of his pavilion, 
armed at all pieces : the two knights came together, 
and struck each other on the shield, and passed by 
without breaking their spears : the second course 
they crossed and struck on their helms : the third 
course they encountered each other so on the shields, 
that their horses stood still : the fourth course was 
well employed ; they unhelmed each other. The 
English knight ran no more ; it was said to him 
that he had done enough. 

Then, on the English part, came forth a lusty 
young knight called Sir Nicholas Clinton ; he 
touched the Lord de Saimpi's shield. 

The knight anon was ready : they met together 
so even that each of them broke their spears in 
three pieces, with such force that the knights were 
in danger to have taken damage ; but they passed 
by and came to their places. The second course 
they struck each other on the helms and passed 
by: the third course their horses crossed and they 
failed : the fourth course the Lord de Saimpi un- 
helmed the English knight, who ran no more that 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 351 

day, for men said he had well and valiantly done, 
and acquitted himself, and how others must have 
place to joust. 

Then a kinsman of the Earl of Huntingdon came 
forth, called Sir William Stamer : he caused to touch 
the shield of Sir Reginald de Roye. 

They ran together with free will, and struck each 
other : the English knight lost his spear. The 
second course they met, but the English knight 
swerved aside : I cannot tell whether the fault was 
in the knight or in the horse ; but Sir Reginald 
struck him so rudely on the targe, that he was sore 
bent backward, and so they passed by, and made 
them ready to run the third course. 

This time they so struck each other on the helms, 
that the fire sprang out and they lost both their 
spears. The fourth course they struck each other 
in the sight of their helms ; with that course Sir 
WiUiam Stamer was dishelmed and nigh borne to 
earth : howbeit he fell not, but returned to his com- 
pany and ran no more that day. 

Then another squire of England came forth, called 
Lancaster : he sent to touch the shield of Sir 
Boucicaut. 

They ran together, and struck each other on the 
helms so that the fire flew out, and marvel it was 
that they had not been unhelmed. It was not long 
till they ran the second course, but their horses 



2^2 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

crossed : the third course they were both unhelmed ; 
and the English squire jousted no more that day. 

Then a young knight, called Sir John Talboys, 
jousted with the Lord de Saimpi : they encountered 
each other on the shields and broke their spear- 
staves : the second course their horses crossed, and 
the third course they were both unhelmed : the 
English knight ran no more that day. 

Then stepped forth Sir Godfrey de Seca, a gentle 
knight and a good jouster, and thatwas well seen 
by what he did. 

He encountered with Sir Reginald de Roye : 
they came right together and met in their shields : 
the spears were good and would not break, so that 
it made their horses to recoil, but they recovered and 
still kept their spears, and then ran again the second 
course : they missed by the fault of the horses and 
not of the knights, and lost both their spears. 

They ran again the third course : the English 
knight struck Sir Reginald on the helm so that he 
was unhelmed ; and Sir Reginald struck the English 
knight on the targe so rudely and with such strength 
(for he was called one of the best jousters in all the 
realm of France) that he pierced the Englishman's 
targe clean through, and the spear-head entered 
into the arm and the spear broke, and the truncheon 
stuck still in the shield and in the knight's arm : 
yet for all that the knight made his turn, and came 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains ^53 

to his place freshly ; then his company drew out the 
truncheon and bound his arm, and Sir Reginald 
returned to his company. 

Of that course Sir Reginald de Roye was greatly 
praised on both sides, for all the hurting of the 
knight ; for such are the adventures of arms, to 
some good, to some evil. 

Then came forth an esquire of England called 
Blackett, and sent to touch the shield of the Lord 
de Saimpi, who was ready to answer. 

They couched their spears and ran together : the 
first course they struck each other on their helms, 
and lost their spears : they took their spears again, 
but in the approaching their horses crossed, so they 
passed by, and returned again to their places. 

They tarried not long, but again ran each at 
other : in that course Blackett struck the Lord de 
Saimpi a-high on the helm, and gave him a sore 
stroke, and Saimpi struck him in the sight of the 
helm a sorer stroke, so that therewith he was so 
unhelmed that the buckle behind broke, and the 
helm fell to the ground : then Blackett returned to 
his company and jousted no more that day, and the 
Lord de Saimpi sat still on his horse, abiding other 
comers. 

Then a gentle knight of England, called Sir John 
Bolcas, touched the shield of the Lord de Saimpi, 
who was there ready to answer. 



354 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

They struck each other on the shields that it was 
marvel they were not pierced, for their spears were 
strong ; howbeit they passed by and lost their 
spears without any other damage. The second 
course they struck on the helms without any hurt, 
and passed by : the third course they crossed : the 
fourth course the Lord de Saimpi unhelmed rudely 
Sir John Bolcas : after that course the English 
knight ran no more. 

Then a young knight of England, richly armed, 
named Sir Thomelin Messiden touched the shield 
of war of Sir Boucicaut. 

He was immediately answered : the first course 
they crossed and struck on the helms : the second 
course they met, and Sir Thomelin broke his 
spear in truncheons, and Boucicaut struck him so 
sore that he bore him to the earth over his horse's 
back : then his companions took him up, and he 
jousted no more. 

Then another squire of England, called Naverton, 
touched the shield of Sir Boucicaut, saying how 
he would avenge his companion, whom Boucicaut 
had overthrown in his presence. 

The knight was ready to answer : the first course 
they struck each other on the visor of their helms 
without any other damage : the second course they 
struck each other on their shields, so that their 
horses recoiled, and they broke their spears in three 




CO 



CO 

Q 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 255 

pieces : then they returned to their places and took 
new spears, and met again together ; Sir Boucicaut 
received a great stroke on the shield, but he struck 
Naverton in such wise that he was unhelmed, and 
ran no more that day ; for every man said that he 
had well acquitted himself 

Then another squire, called Swinnerton, an expert 
man of arms, sent to touch the shield of Sir Reginald 
de Roye. 

The knight was ready to answer, well mounted 
with shield and spear : they met so rudely that 
Swinnerton did well to bear himself from falling, 
for he had such a stroke that he was sore bent 
backward : howbeit he raised himself and passed 
forth, but he lost his spear. The next course they 
met rudely on their helms, so that the fire flashed 
out : the third course Swinnerton was unhelmed, so 
that both he and his horse were stunned : he re- 
turned to his company and jousted no more that 
day, nor no man else, for the night approached. 

Then the Englishmen returned to Calais, and the 
Frenchmen to St. Inglevere. 

Of the third day at St. Inglevere, and how the French 
King was there present, disguised as unknown 

Ye may well know that Charles, the French King, 
was sore desirous to be at those jousts; he was young, 
and light of spirit, and glad to see new things : it 



2 §6 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

was shewed me that from the beginning to the ending 
he was there present, disguised as unknown, so that 
none knew him but the Lord de Garancieres, who 
came with him also as unknown, and every day 
returned to Marquise. 

Then on the Wednesday the Englishmen rode 
from Calais and came to the place of the jousts : 
then a squire of England, called John Savage, sent 
to touch the shield of war of Sir Reginald de Roye. 

The knight was ready in his pavilion, and issued 
out, and mounted on his horse ; then they came 
together with great random, and struck each other 
on their shields, in such wise that if their spears had 
not broken, either one of the men or both had been 
stricken to the ground. This was a goodly and 
a dangerous course ; howbeit the knights took no 
damage, their spears broke to their hands, and the 
heads stuck still in their shields ; every man feared 
they had been hurt, so every party came to their 
company, and when it was known that they had no 
hurt, every man was joyful, and said how they had 
done enough for that day. 

But those words pleased not John Savage, for he 
said he was not come over the sea to run but one 
course. Those words were shewed to Sir Reginald 
de Roye, and he answered and said, " It is reason 
that he be answered either by me or by some of my 
company." 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 357 

Then they took new shields and spears, and ran 
again together ; but at the cope their horses crossed 
and so they failed each other, wherewith they were 
sore displeased, and for anger cast away their spears 
and took new : and at the third course they struck 
each other in the sight of their helms, in such wise 
that both were unhelmed : every man praised that 
course. 

The Englishmen came to John Savage, and said 
how he had right honourably acquitted himself that 
day, and how he had done enough, for there were 
others to run. He obeyed and ran no more, but 
alighted from his horse, and leapt on a small hackney 
to see others run. 

Then a squire of England came forth, cousin to 
the Earl Marshal, called William Basquenay ; he 
touched the shield of Sir Boucicaut ; the knight was 
ready to answer. 

They came together as straight as they could de- 
vise, and struck each other in the sight of the helms, 
in such wise that both were unhelmed ; they passed 
forth on their course frank and freely. 

Anon they were again helmed, and ran together 
and struck each other on their shields, and broke 
their spears without doing any other damage : the 
third course they crossed, wherewith they were sore 
displeased : the fourth course William Basquenay 
was again unhelmed^ and so ran no more that day. 



2S^ The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

Then another English squire, called Scott, ran 
against the Lord de Sainipi. 

The first course they encountered so rudely that 
their horses staggered ; the spears held, yet they lost 
their spears. Then they made them ready to run 
the second course : and they met in such wise that 
the Lord de Saimpi was unhelmed, and the squire 
much praised for that course. Again the third 
course they encountered each other on the shields, 
in such wise that John Scott was stricken down over 
his horse's croup ; thus the Lord de Saimpi was 
revenged : the English squire was picked up and 
brought to his company, and ran no more that day. 

Then another English squire, called Bernard Sta- 
pleton, touched the shield of the Lord de Saimpi. 

They came together, and struck each other on 
their helms, that the fire flashed out, and so passed 
by without any other damage, and still kept their 
spears : the second course they met in their shields 
rudely, yet they kept their horses, and so passed 
forth on their course : the third course they un- 
helmed each other: the English squire ran no more 
that day. 

Then stepped forth a gentle knight of England, 
young and fresh, a jolly dancer and singer, called 
Sir John Arundel ; he ran against Sir Reginald de 
Roye. 

At the first course they met rudely, and struck 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 359 

each other on their shields, but they held themselves 
without falling, and passed forth on their course, but 
they lost their spears. The second course they 
struck each other on their helms, that sparks of 
fire flew out, without further damage: the third 
course they crossed, and lost their spears : the 
fourth course they struck on their helms : the fifth 
course they broke their spears on their shields, and 
then Sir John Arundel ran no more that day. 

Then another squire of England, called Nicholas 
Stone, a proper man of arms, ran against Sir Bou- 
cicaut. 

The first course they struck each other on their 
helms, a great blow : the second course they struck 
each other on their shields in such wise that their 
horses were stunned, and they lost their spears: the 
third course they struck each other on their helms, 
and Nicholas Stone was unhelmed, and ran no 
more. 

Then another squire came forth, called John 
Marshall, and ran against Sir Boucicaut, for he was 
ready, looking for nothing but to joust. 

He took his spear and couched it in the rest : the 
first course they met rudely on their shields, and lost 
their spears: the second course they struck on their 
helms : the third course they aimed well at each 
other and met rudely ; John Marshall broke his 
spear-stafF in three pieces, and Sir Boucicaut struck 



360 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

him on his helm, in such wise that he was un- 
helmed, and so returned and ran no more that 
day. 

Then came forth a lusty young knight of Eng- 
land, who desired greatly to win honour, called Sir 
John Clinton : he bare silver fretty azure, with a 
chief azure, a mullet silver in the chief He touched 
the shield of Sir Reginald de Roye, who was ready 
to answer, and was glad of the coming of that 
knight. 

They came to their places and took their spears : 
the first course they struck on their helms and passed 
forth : the second course they struck each other on 
their shields, and passed by, and lost their spears : 
the third course they struck on their helms, so that 
the fire flew out : the fourth course they crossed : the 
fifth course was well employed, for each of them 
broke their spears. The two knights were sore 
chafed, and showed well how they had great desire 
to prove themselves : the sixth course each of them 
unhelmed the other; that course was greatly praised. 
The English knight ran no more that day, for 
he had done enough. 

Then Roger Low, another EngHsh squire, ad- 
vanced forth : he bare silver and sable quarterly, in 
the midst a cross gules, and he touched the shield 
of the Lord de Saimpi. 

The first course they encountered so rudely that 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 361 

their horses were stunned, for their spears held : the 
second course they struck on their helms and passed 
forth : at the third course Roger Low was unhelmed, 
and ran no more. 

Then advanced forth a right gentle knight of the 
nation of Hainault, from the marches of Ostrevant, 
but from his youth he had been brought up in the 
Court of the noble King Edward of England : this 
knight was called Sir John d'Ambreticourt ; he was 
brother to the good knight Sir Eustace. He bore 
on his armour, ermine, two bars humettees gules, 
each charged with three escallop shells silver, and he 
touched the shield of Sir Reginald de Roye. 

The first course they struck on their helms, that 
the fire followed : the second course they entered so 
rudely that it was marvel how they scaped without 
damage, for both of them were noble jousters and 
feared neither pain nor death. The third course 
Sir Reginald de Roye was rudely unhelmed, and Sir 
John d'Ambreticourt passed forth and turned and 
came again to his place ; and Sir Reginald de Roye 
returned to his company, and shewed how he would 
joust no more that day. 

Then the English knight, desiring to joust more, 
sent to touch the shield of Sir Boucicaut. They ran 
together so fiercely and struck each other on their 
shields, that it was marvel they had not been pierced 
through : the second course they struck on their 



362 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

helms, and passed forth, and lost their spears : the 
third course they met so rudely that each of them 
was unhelmed. 

Then the Englishmen drew together and said that 
it was near night, took their leave, and departed 
towards Calais. That night there was none other 
communing but of the jousts that had been done 
that day. The Frenchmen went to Marquise, and 
conversed there at their pleasure. 

Of the fourth day, and how the Englishmen departed in 
courteous manner from the three knights of France, and 
thanked them greatly 

On the Thursday, the fourth day of the week, the 
Englishmen being at Calais assembled together all 
such as had not jousted, and were come over the sea 
for that intent : they concluded to return again to 
St. Inglevere to do arms ; so they mounted on their 
horses and rode out of Calais, and came to the place 
where the jousts should be done : there were ready 
the three knights of France in their pavilions, and 
such others as should serve them. 

First there came into the place a knight of Eng- 
land, called Sir Godfrey Eustace : he bore for arms, 
gold, with three bars gules, and a lion sable charged 
on the dexter paw with a mullet gold, and he touched 
the shield of Sir Boucicaut who incontinent issued 
out of his pavilion ready to answer. 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains ;^6;^ 

The knights aimed at each other and ran together 
and struck on their helms, and passed forth on their 
course, and still kept their spears : the second course 
they struck each other in the midst of their shields, 
and the spears broke without any damage, and they 
passed forth and came again to their places : the 
third course they unhelmed each other : the English 
knight jousted no more, for it was said to him he 
had right valiantly acquitted himself, and also that 
he must suffer others to joust. 

Then an English squire came forth, called Alain 
Birch ; he touched the shield of the Lord de Saimpi ; 
the knight was ready to answer. 

The first course they touched on their helms that 
the fire flew out ; they passed forth on their course 
and returned again to their places : the second 
course they broke both their spear-staves : the third 
course they unhelmed each other; the Englishman 
ran no more, for it behoved others to joust after. 

Then another English squire, called Scrope, 
touched the shield of Sir Boucicaut. 

The first course they crossed : the second course 
they struck on their helms : the third course Scrope 
was overthrown; then he was picked up and brought 
to his company, and ran no more. 

Then a knight of Bohemia, one of the Queen of 
England's knights, called Herchauce, who bore in 
his arms silver, three griffins' feet sable, armed 



364 Tne Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

azure, came forth. He was demanded with whom 
he would joust: he answered, "With Boucicaut." 

Then they made them ready and ran together, but 
the knight of Bohemia made a forfeit ; wherefore he 
was greatly blamed that he so ill demeaned his course: 
the Englishmen saw well how he had forfeited his 
armour and horse, if the Frenchmen wished. Of 
this course there was great communication between 
the parties, but finally it was pardoned, the better 
to please the Englishmen. 

Then Herchauce required again to run one 
course ; he was demanded against whom he would 
run : he sent to touch the shield of Sir Reginald de 
Roye, and he was ready to answer. 

The first course they met in the midst of their 
shields, and Sir Reginald de Roye, who was one of 
the best jousters in the realm of France, struck the 
other knight clean from his horse, in such wise 
that men thought he had been dead. Herchauce 
with much pain was raised up and brought to the 
company. The Englishmen were not displeased 
that he was overthrown, because he ran the first 
course so ungoodly. So he ran no more that day. 

Then came in a squire of England called Robert 
Scorneborne ; he touched the shield of the Lord de 
Saimpi, who was ready to answer. 

The first course they struck on their helms : the 
second course they struck on their shields and lost 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains ;}6^ 

their spears : the third course they unhelmed each 
other ; the English squire ran no more. 

Then John Merland came forth : he bore in his 
arms, silver, a bend between three lions' heads 
sable, and he touched the shield of Sir Reginald de 
Roye, who was ready to answer. 

The first course they struck on their helms : the 
second course they so encountered each other that 
their horses were stunned and they both lost their 
spears : the third course John Merland was stricken 
to the ground ; he was raised up and jousted no 
more. 

Then another squire, called John Molton, ad- 
vanced ; he bore for arms, gules, a chevron silver 
and three pierced mullets gold, within a bordure 
indented sable ; and he touched the shield of 
Boucicaut. 

The knight was ready : the first course they 
touched and passed forth : the second course they 
struck on their helms and lost their spears : the 
third course John Molton was unhelmed ; he ran 
no more that day, but gave place to others. 

Then a right goodly knight of England, called 
Sir Jaquemin Scrope, touched the shield of the 
Lord de Saimpi, who was ready mounted. 

The first course their horses crossed, wherewith 
they were sore displeased : the second course they 
struck on their helms, that the fire flew out, and 



^66 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

they both lost their spears : the third course Sir 
Jaquemin Scrope broke his spear, but the Lord de 
Saimpi struck him so rudely that he fell over his 
horse's croup to the earth ; he was raised up and 
ran no more that day. 

Then another squire came forth, called William 
Maskelyne : he ran against Sir Boucicaut, who was 
ready to answer. The first course they struck on 
their helms, that the iire flew out : that course was 
praised of every party : the second course they 
struck each other on their shields and lost their 
spears : the third course they unhelmed each other 
so that each sat bare-headed in their coifs ; they 
ran no more that day, for they had done enough. 

Then another squire of England, called Nicholas 
Low, came forth, he touched the shield of the Lord 
de Saimpi, who was ready to answer. 

The first course they struck each other so sore 
on their shields, that if their spear-staves had not 
broken, it had been to their great damage, but they 
held themselves well from falling : at the second 
course their strokes crossed and they struck each 
other on the helms that the fire flew out, and so 
passed by : the third was a goodly course, for they 
struck each other so even in the sight of their 
helms, that each of them unhelmed the other so 
clearly, that their helms flew into the field over their 
horses' croups. 



The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 367 

Then the jousters ceased for that day, for there 
was no Englishman that offered to joust any more 
that day. 

Then the Earl of Huntingdon, and the Earl 
Marshal, and the Lord Clifford, the Lord Beaumont, 
Sir John Clinton, Sir John d'Ambreticourt, Sir 
Peter Shirburne, and all other knights that had 
jousted those four days with the French knights, 
thanked them greatly for their pastime and said, 
" Sirs, all such as would joust of our party have ac- 
complished their desires, wherefore now we will take 
leave of you : we will return to Calais and so into 
England : and we know well whosoever will joust 
with you shall find you here these thirty days, ac- 
cording to the tenor of your challenge ; and when 
once we come into England, such knights as desire 
to do deeds of arms, we shall desire them to come 
to visit you." 

The three knights thanked them and said, " They 
shall be right heartily welcome, and we shall deliver 
them of their vows according to the right of arms, 
as we have done you ; and moreover, we thank you 
for the courtesy ye have shewed to us." 

Thus in courteous manner the Englishmen de- 
parted from St. Inglevere, and rode to Calais, where 
they tarried not long : for the Saturday after they 
took shipping and sailed to Dover, and were there 
by noon : and the Sunday they rode to Rochester, 



368 The Challenge of the Three Chamberlains 

and the next day to London, and so every man to 
his own. 

The three French knights still kept their place 
at St. Inglevere. The French King and the Lord 
of Garancieres, who had been there all that season 
unknown, when the Englishmen were departed^ 
they never ceased riding till they came to Creil, on 
the river of Oise, where the Queen was at that time. 

After that the Englishmen came into England, I 
heard not that any more came over to do any deeds 
of arms at St. Inglevere : howbeit the three French 
knights held still their place till their thirty days 
were accomplished : and then at their leisure they 
returned, every man, and came to Paris to see the 
King, and the Duke of Touraine, and other lords 
that were at Paris at that time ; who made them 
good cheer, as reason required, for they had val- 
iantly borne themselves, whereby they achieved 
great honour of the King, and of the realm of 
France. 



STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. 



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De Soto and his Men in the Land of Florida* 

By GRACE KING, Author of " New Orleans : the Place and the Peo- 
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A stoiy based upon Spanish and Portuguese accounts of "Conquest" by the 
brilliant armada which sailed under De Soto in 1538 to subdue this country. Miss 
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Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors, Tales of 1812. 

By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated bv R. F. Zogbaum and C. T. 
Chapman. 

"Mr. Barnes knows how to tell a story as well as how to write history. His 
style is terse and full of movement; his book one that old and young may read with 
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Southern Soldier Stories. 

By GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON, Author of "A Rebel's Recollec- 
tions," etc., etc. Illustrated by R. F. ZOGBAUM. 

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Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic. 

Bv THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON, Author of " Young Folks- 
History of the United States," "Malbone," " Cheerful Yesterdays," etc. 
Illustrated by ALBERT Herter. 
Legends with which the people of Europe were for many centuries fed in regard 
to the countries beyond the seas now known as America. " No national history has 
been less prosaic in its earlier traditions," says Colonel Higginson, who relates in a 
manner which shows strong sympathy and learned research these wonderful stories 
which for a thousand years were told of a mysterious island in the Atlantic. 



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, 

66 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. 



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STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY 

Of Interest to Every American. 

Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts* 

By FRANK R. STOCKTON, Author of " Rudder Grange," etc., etc. 

Illustrated by G. Varian and G. VV. Clinedinst. 
Stories of the rise and decline of buccaneering and piracy in oar West Indian 
waters. Spanish exactions grew so monstrous in the seventeenth century that Eng- 
lish, French, and Dutch combined against their excesses. The V-uccaneers, who 
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ton's quaint humor brightens the stories of iheir dark deeds in characteristic style. 
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The Story of Old Fort Loudon* 

A Tale of the Cherokees and the Pioneers of Tennes o, 1760. By 
CHARLES EGBERT CRADDOCK, Author of " Where ^ Battle was 
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A narrative of the life of the pioneers of Tennessee and their fortu les at the hands 
of the Cherokees m the uprising of 1760 The brilliant Tennessee landscape and the 
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Among other Volumes to follow are 



Early Canadian Explorers, 



By GILBERT PARKER, Author of "Pierre and his People," "A 

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Stories of men who made history in the old days of the rule of tlie Hudson Bay 
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Californian History and Exploration, 

By CHARLES H. SHINN. 

From the snows of the north to the orange groves of Lower California is a strong 
contrast, but just as the old trapper and the "company's agent" haunt one in the 
north like ghosts from an old past, so in the ruined vineyards of the old " 'dobe mis- 
sions " are the haunting footsteps of their earliest settlers, the Spanish fathers, and 
an equally fascinating heritage of historical records. 

Tales of the Great Lakes. 

By C. G. D. ROBERTS. 

Other Volumes are to follow. 



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